Harwich Finance Committee Approves $85 Million in Town and School Spending

HARWICH — March 26, 2026 — Harwich Finance Committee completes warrant review, approving $51.7 million town budget and $33.1 million school assessment 8-0. The committee voted unanimously Thursday to recommend Article 4, the fiscal year 2027 town operating budget totaling $51,763,298, and Article 5, the Monomoy Regional School District assessment of $33,104,137 — a figure reached after the district eliminated more than 14 positions to hold spending to a level-services standard. Town Administrator Jay McGrail, who opened the meeting responding to public criticism tied to his prior role in Middleborough, told the committee "I take my job extremely seriously" and received statements of support from every member present. The committee also approved a $10,065.02 reserve fund transfer to reimburse Cape Cod Regional Technical High School for blizzard shelter costs, with member Mark Amaris abstaining. It voted 8-0 to indefinitely postpone petition Article 56, which sought to ban multifamily development special permits in rural and lower-density zones, citing the absence of Planning Board review. The committee disclosed a roughly $900,000 snow and ice deficit that has not yet been resolved before the May 4 annual town meeting.