Burlington's next Town Meeting will be held beginning on January 26, 2026, in the BHS Auditorium. There will be no hybrid participation option except for Town Meeting Members with documented medical reasons, but the meeting will be broadcast on BCAT.

This article contains the Burlington Buzz Warrant Article Summary. You can also find more in-depth explainers on the Warrant Articles in the week leading up to Town Meeting in the dedicated Town Meeting section of the Buzz website.

Information contained in this summary is taken from previous Burlington Buzz coverage, public meetings and interviews, and the town's official documentation—the Warrant (the list of items up for a vote) and Backup (supporting documentation and justifications)—which can be found in the Town Meeting section of the Town Clerk’s website. If you want to dive further into any of these issues, those documents are the best place to start.

You can also view the FY26 budget for all town departments and 10-year capital plan and the school budget.

Please reach out to your precinct representatives with questions and input. Not sure what precinct you’re in? Click here for a map. This Warrant Article Summary will be updated continuously to add votes and other pertinent details as Town Meeting Progresses.

January 26, 2026, Town Meeting

General Articles

Article 1 - Reports of Town Officers & Committees

The body will hear updates from town committees and officers.
Submitted by the Rules Committee

Zoning Bylaw Articles

Article 2 - Amend Zoning Articles to add a Definition for Setback

The wording in the zoning bylaws can be confusing, using "yard" at times where it should say "setback." This housekeeping article seeks to add a definition for the term "setback" to clarify the wording: The minimum distance by which any building or structure must be separated from a lot line. (2/3 vote required)
Requested by the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee

Financial Articles

Article 3 - Transfer from Free Cash to Water Stabilization Fund ($2,375,037)

The town transfers water rate revenues from free cash to help fund admission fees, debt service, and water supply expenses related to the MWRA connection project, which is nearing completion. This annual process has been ongoing since 2018, and this is likely one of the final such transfers as project costs become part of the regular operating budget.
Requested by the Town Administrator
Advisory Votes | Select Board: 5-0

Article 4 - Transfer from Free Cash to Ways and Means Reserve Fund ($100,000)

This article aims to add $100,000 from free cash to the Ways and Means Reserve Fund, bringing it to $300,000, a process that occur annually. This emergency fund covers unexpected expenses between town meetings, previously used for fire station HVAC repairs and fire engine rebuilding, though it hasn't been tapped in several years. This fund is initially funded at $200,000 each May, and then an additional $100,000 is added each January. Unused funds will clear to Free Cash at the end of the fiscal year.
Requested by the Town Administrator
Advisory Votes | Select Board: 5-0

Article 5 - Authorize Transportation Infrastructure Funds ($43,148.40)

This article would allocate just over $43,000 in rideshare surcharge funds collected by the state from Burlington-originating rides. The town receives 10 cents per ride, indicating over 430,000 rides started in Burlington during 2024. These funds will support the town's Lyft rideshare program operated through the Senior Center, continuing an established practice.
Requested by the Town Administrator
Advisory Votes | Select Board: 5-0

Article 6 - Fund Burlington International Firefighters’ Association Contract (TBD)

This would fund the union contract for the town's firefighters. The contract is not yet finalized, and if not settled by January 26 will be withdrawn and brought to Town Meeting again in May.
Requested by the Town Administrator

Article 7 - Government Review Committee Survey Expenses ($20,000)

This article requests funding for the Government Review Committee to conduct a scientific survey, estimated at $20,000. This survey would be used to gather input from community members regarding how the government works for them, how well they understand the government's operations and structure, and public sentiment on how things could be improved. This input, once analyzed, will inform the work of the Committee as it creates a Charter and supporting bylaws that describe the structure and function of the town's government.
Requested by the Burlington Government Review Committee
Advisory Votes | Select Board: 5-0

Article 8 - Repurpose Previously Approved Funds to the Overlook Park Project ($250,000)

The town has secured state funding for the walkway improvements planned for the Town Common and requests shifting $250,000 previously approved for this work to the $2.5-million Overlook Park redevelopment project ($1,000,000 of which will be supported by a grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund). These funds can now restore value-engineered items and maintain a contingency for Overlook Park.
Requested by the Town Administrator
Advisory Votes | Select Board: 5-0

Article 9 - Recreation Sensory Trailer ($25,000)

The Parks & Recreation Department, is requesting these funds to purchase a mobile sensory trailer, which would be used at community-wide events. $25,000 of this $50,000 project will come from the Disability Access Commission (funded by handicap parking violation fines), and the Recreation Commission requests that the remainder be allocated by Town Meeting.
Requested by the Recreation Commission
Advisory Votes | Select Board: 5-0

General Articles

Article 10 - Sewer Easement Release

This article seeks to release an unused 1960s sewer easement in the Edgemont, Elm, and Terry neighborhood. The neighborhood's sewer system is already constructed, and the easement wasn't needed for that work. (2/3 vote required)
Requested by the Town Administrator
Advisory Votes | Select Board: 5-0

Article 11 - Disposition/Sale of Surplus Town Property

The town wishes to sell a small 25X100-foot parcel, known as 0 Polk Street, acquired through tax taking in the 1970s. Town Administration notes this property (which hasn't been generating taxes in over 50 years) could potentially be added to an existing parcel to create a larger tax-generating property. (2/3 vote required)
Requested by the Town Administrator
Advisory Votes | Select Board: 4-1

General Bylaw Articles

Article 12 - Amend General Bylaw Article XIII, Public Safety, Prohibition of Cryptocurrency Automatic Teller Machines

This article would prohibit cryptocurrency ATMs, which are frequently used in financial scams. Full story coming soon.
Requested by the Burlington Police Department
Advisory Votes | Select Board: 5-0

Article 13 - Amend Bylaw Article One to Limit Repeat Articles

This would institute a one-year cooling off period for Articles that have been voted down by Town Meeting.
Requested by the General Bylaw Review Committee
Advisory Votes | Select Board: 4-1

Stay tuned to the Buzz for updates to this Warrant Article Summary and for vote updates as Town Meeting goes on.