PEMBROKE - April 1, 2026 - The Pembroke Select Board opened its first major budget review for Fiscal Year 2027 on Wednesday, grappling with a staggering $1.1 million deficit in the current year’s snow and ice budget while simultaneously reviewing funding for critical public safety and town operations. Town Manager Bill Chenard presented a wide-ranging financial plan that includes modernizing town payroll systems and expanding digital permitting, even as officials warned of rising fuel costs and unresolved police contract negotiations.
The Full Story
The primary focus of Wednesday night’s session was a marathon presentation of departmental budgets by Town Manager Bill Chenard. While most municipal departments saw routine adjustments, the “elephant in the room,” as Chenard described it, was the town’s snow and ice removal account [23:57]. The town currently faces a deficit of nearly $1.1 million for the 2026 fiscal year following a series of devastating winter storms [24:03].
