Arlington Finance Committee Approves Dozens of Departmental Budgets, Defers Legal Line

ARLINGTON — February 4, 2026 — Arlington's Finance Committee approved FY2026 budget recommendations for more than a dozen departments at its February 4 meeting, with the Fire Department's $8,683,478 line drawing the most debate. A committee presenter reported that all police and fire collective bargaining contracts had been settled for the first time in years, carrying a $1.8 million salary reserve increase that must be approved by Town Meeting and may still fall short of the full retroactive obligation dating to fiscal year 2022. Members questioned whether five current fire department vacancies — with three additional retirements expected by June — would allow the department to meet its four-minute response-time standard, especially if a proposed Proposition 2 1/2 override fails. The DEI and Equity budget of $217,039 passed on a divided show of hands, approximately 13 to 8. The committee deferred the Legal Department and video budgets to a subsequent Monday session, pending a requested cost breakdown from town counsel.