Milford Select Board Approves Leaner Fire and Police FY27 Budgets

MILFORD — April 6, 2026 — Milford Select Board unanimously approves constrained FY27 fire and police budgets, accepting service reductions. Finance Director Zach Taylor told the board Monday that the town is on target to meet an unusually tight 2.5 percent overall spending goal, but Fire Chief Mike Pratt warned that reaching that target requires eliminating the second overnight firefighter on the ladder truck — a position the department added in recent years after repeated split-squad emergencies. Pratt said fire department overtime has grown from under $500,000 annually when he took over in 2020 to over $1.1 million, and contractual salary increases of 8 percent leave overtime as the only controllable line. Police Chief Robert Tocino said his budget increases are "strictly contractual," with a third school resource officer and a traffic enforcement unit both deferred. Chair Brian O'Loughlin stated he considers restoring the second ladder-truck position a top priority "even if it's midstream, midterm on the budget." The board also approved a 24-hour drive-through-only license amendment for the Dunkin' at 31 Main Street and a beer, wine, and cordials license for Classic Pizza of Milford at 179-181 Main Street.