Kingston Capital Planning Committee Approves $604,000 FY27 Budget and Ambulance Borrowing

KINGSTON — May 7, 2026 — Kingston Capital Planning Committee approves roughly $604,000 FY27 capital budget and authorizes borrowing up to $700,000 for a new ambulance. Working within a free-cash allocation of approximately $613,000, the four-member committee voted unanimously on all items at its May 7 meeting, recommending a $165,000 Fire Station 1 roof replacement, three Kingston Police Department vehicles totaling roughly $241,000, one replacement cardiac monitor and three cardiac compression units for the fire department totaling approximately $133,500, and a $64,949 school tractor. Fire Chief Douglas reversed his earlier recommendation to remount Ambulance 3, citing incompatibility between new chassis electronics and older module systems and declining workmanship at the department's longtime vendor PL Custom following its acquisition by a Virginia firm: "Until the new company gets up to speed and gets squared away, I don't have a comfort level." The committee also approved approximately $1.01 million in scheduled FY27 lease payments and a $411,820 transfer to retire the ladder truck lease, and passed a contingent favorable action on an $85,000 joint police-fire server pending identification of a year-end funding source. All items go to Annual Town Meeting on June 6, 2026.