ASHFIELD — As town officials have begun to review budget proposals for fiscal year 2026, Ashfield’s various boards and committees warn the town will need to invest more in professional consulting services in the coming years, and more residents will need to invest their time in the town and volunteer to fill vacant committee seats.

The Selectboard and Finance Committee met Monday to review the budget needs of the town’s animal control officer, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Building Committee, Selectboard, town administrator, treasurer and town clerk, as well as employee benefits. Discussions covered a range of needs, such as increasing the town’s reserve fund to cover any unanticipated changes to employee health insurance and parental leave coverage, but centered around an increasing need for fresh blood in town government and more professional consulting to navigate the growing complexities of state and federal regulations.

Planning Board members gave the examples of recent state laws on solar projects and accessory dwelling units, and the difficulties of creating a bylaw that takes into account all state and federal guidelines. Planning Board Chair Rick Chandler said projects like these require more consulting services from experts.

The planning, zoning and conservation budgets for FY26 seek a $37,280 increase to cover an administrative assistant, membership with the American Planning Association, legal ad increases and general costs. Chandler said setting aside $20,000 for a town planner, even a part-time or regional one, would be a huge help to the board.

Town Administrator Paul McLatchy III said he has spoken with several other towns on how to deal with the growing need for planning services and many would like to have a town planner, but don’t necessarily have the budget for one.

“The need is there,” McLatchy said.

Chandler added that many of Ashfield’s boards and committees are made up of older residents, who would like to retire from public service. Chandler and Planning Board Clerk Alan Rice will both be stepping down in the spring. The town will need to recruit new volunteers for these roles, and a town planner could help with the learning curve of municipal government.

“A town like this can’t operate without volunteer help,” said Mollie Babize, chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

As aging volunteers say they want to step back and pass their roles on to younger residents, several town staff members warned the town will need to prepare for budget increases when they retire.

Animal Control Officer Warren Kirkpatrick has been in the role for more than 40 years, and told the Selectboard and Finance Committee that he plans to continue his work until he is physically unable to, but when that happens, animal control costs will skyrocket as few will be willing to take on the role for the small stipend that is offered. The town may need to consider joining regional animal control services through the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG).

For FY26, Kirkpatrick is requesting a $460, or 6.03%, budget increase that would raise his stipend to $4,400. This would increase the total animal control budget to $8,085.

Treasurer Julie Wonkka is requesting $10,440 for her FY26 budget to hire a part-time assistant treasurer to assist in organizing files, processing W-2s and employee payroll, and learn the role of town treasurer to begin preparing for when Wonkka is ready to retire in a few years.

“This job takes a lot to learn,” Wonkka said. “There’s a lot of moving parts.”

Similarly, Town Hall Steward Mary Quigley warned the town would likely need to invest in a facilities manager once her appointment as town hall steward ends, and said it would be difficult to find someone willing to take on the work of managing repairs and maintenance at Town Hall, while also monitoring the building and opening it for events.

In FY25, Quigley’s stipend for her work is $5,000. In FY26, the building and grounds budget is seeking $7,500 to hire a facilities manager.

Quigley said she and the members of the Town Hall Building Committee do as much as they can to keep the building up and running, but need help managing the building’s heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical and other systems.

“We’re a committee but we can’t do it all,” Quigley said.

Budget reviews will continue over the coming weeks, and the budget is expected to be finalized in mid-April in preparation for a May 3 Annual Town Meeting. The tentative budget schedule can be found on the town website.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.