Eastham Finance Committee Clears Five Warrant Articles, Eyes $2.99 Million Override

EASTHAM — March 12, 2026 — Eastham Finance Committee votes unanimously on five warrant articles, projects $472 median-home tax hike. The nine-member committee approved articles covering revolving funds, capital planning, and Community Preservation Act funding in three 9-0 votes at its March 12 meeting, clearing the path toward a May 4 Town Meeting. Finance Director Rich Waldo outlined a best-case general override of approximately $2.99 million — down from an earlier projection of $3.93 million — driven by settled collective bargaining contracts costing $1.1 million in year one, a $755,000 shortfall in transfer station, pension, and health insurance costs, and a school override now estimated at $660,000. A dispute over whether the Nauset Regional School District should use January or October 1 enrollment figures remains unresolved; if the old numbers prevail, the median-home increase rises from $472, or about 8 percent, to roughly $627, or about 10.8 percent. The committee also reviewed a protective warrant article authorizing additional wastewater borrowing if April 30 project bids exceed $170 million, and heard a presentation on seven proposed zoning bylaw amendments covering residential development limits, sign codes, shipping container storage, and inclusionary zoning.