Article 3, which sets the compensation for Duxbury’s elected town officers, passed after residents questioned the optics of increasing pay while the town simultaneously navigates significant budget cuts and a requested tax override. The article establishes salaries for the 12-month period beginning July 1, 2026, and includes a pay increase for the Town Clerk.

During the discussion, resident Brie Lang asked if the town was increasing pay right now when we are still trying to balance our budget? Select Board Clerk Fernando Guitart responded that the budget is technically balanced and that the inclusion of the Town Clerk’s raise was a deliberate part of that financial plan. The Select Board has recently navigated a period of intense fiscal pressure, often balancing the need for service restoration with a desire for tax-rate stability.

Despite the pushback from some attendees regarding the timing of the raises, the majority of the meeting supported the motion. The article ensures that elected officials, including the Select Board and the Town Clerk, will be compensated according to the newly approved FY27 schedule.

Motion: I move that the town fix the compensation of the elected town officers for the 12-month period beginning July 1, 2026.

Vote: Passed 185-28