Wheelock Draft 2027 Highway Budget Would Rise 9% to $644,410

WHEELOCK — Wheelock’s draft highway budget for 2027 would increase spending by about $56,000, or 9%, driven mainly by higher equipment costs and a larger reserve for replacing aging trucks. The second draft of the proposed budget totals $644,410, up from $588,502 this year. The figures are preliminary, and the Select Board plans to review a revised draft after Town Clerk-Treasurer Erin Swigart recalculates the numbers. One of the biggest proposed changes is increasing the road equipment reserve from $20,000 to $50,000. Board members said the town needs to plan to replace aging vehicles rather than keep spending heavily to keep them running.