PHILLIPSTON – Voters face a 32-article warrant at Wednesday’s Annual Town Meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Phillipston Memorial Building, 20 The Common.

Among other items, voters will consider a proposed FY26 municipal budget of just over $2.8 million, an increase of about 7% over the current budget of $2.6 million.

While most line items reflect modest increases – if any at all – employee health and life insurance has jumped by 32%, from $199,000 to $263,000. The town’s contribution to the Worcester Regional Retirement System will see an increase of 17%, from just under $181,000 to just over $212,000.

Voters will see a very modest increase in the town’s assessment for the Narragansett Regional School District Budget. The FY26 obligation comes in at around $2,072,000 – an increase of just over a half percent.

The town’s assessment forMontachusett Regional Vocational Technical School District, however, will jump by some 20%, from $255,452 to $318,607.

Several articles to fund capital expenditures are also on Wednesday’s warrant, to be paid for through the town’s Capital Investment Fund. These include $105,000 for the design and construction of a new dog kennel for animal control, $90,000 for a new police cruiser, and $215,000 for the first payment on the debt service to purchase and equip the new fire truck. Another $41,000 is to be transferred to the town’s stabilization fund.

Voters will be asked to fund projects recommended by Phillipston’s Community Preservation Committee. These include $50,000 to make repairs to the Phillips Free Public Library; $160,000 for repairs to the gymnasium at the Phillipston Memorial Building (formerly Phillipston Memorial Elementary School); and $30,000 for a dozen windows at the Congregational Church.

Phillipston has no quorum requirement for Town Meeting, meaning any number of voters can approve or defeat any article on the warrant, including the annual budget.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.