STAFFORD FREE PRESS

More than halfway through watching the May 13, 2026, Board of Finance (BOF) meeting, I didn’t think there would be much to write about. Stafford Free Press already reported when the Board of Selectmen (BOS) and the Board of Education (BOE) approved their separate budget requests. This meeting was just a rehashing of that information. But then BOF member Dave Walsh started asking questions and Superintendent of Stafford Public Schools Scott Sugarman painted a picture of the re

BOS budget not represents a decrease from the previous year.

For months, Stafford’s Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) has been talking about ways to encourage more affordable housing development and at the May 7, 2026, meeting one of those solutions was formally on the agenda. The PZC is moving forward with steps to allow two-family dwellings in AA zones. Presently, only single-family dwellings are allowed in this zone, but the need for this change was outlined in the 2022 housing affordability plan. The commission is still wordsmit

Learn where the BOE will find $227,215 to cut from its budget request

Where will the cuts come from? No one knows just yet.

Follow the twists and turns of Stafford's 2026 Annual Town Meeting.

Why would the Town set a budget but not a Mill Rate?

Learn more about how an otherwise mundane BOF meeting turned heated.

Learn about the impact shared transfer station services could have on Stafford.

Learn how a budget can go up, while the amount of taxes collected goes down.

Stafford is gearing up for a public hearing regarding the 2026-2027 budget. If you’ve been following along for the past few months, you may already know what to expect. The Board of Education and Board of Selectmen have approved their respective budget proposals, and after they are officially presented at the hearing, the public will have the opportunity to ask questions. The Board of Finance will then discuss the proposals and the feedback before taking action. Explore the

Find out which roads are next on the paving list.

Learn about a new calculator that could help residents better understand how the budget impacts them.

Stafford students have 13 new Career Pathways to choose from.

Learn about the new Highway Industrial Zone.

Stafford expects Witt School remediation this summer.

Winter isn't over yet, and the cost of snow removal is still being tallied.

A vague but promising proposal concerning shared services at the transfer station.

Selectmen's (unofficial) budget represents a .35% increase.

Get an overview of some of the results from Stafford's 2025 audit.