Don Lowe First Selectman 03/30/2026 Column
This week you should receive the annual Town budget letter in your mailboxes. The letter comes from me and offers a description of how the budget numbers are derived and what the budget numbers are. You will see that the overall Town and Education budgets comprise a 4.4% increase. There are several factors (as there always are) as to why our budget will increase, but as you might surmise, the Sherman School renovation/repair project – voted affirmatively by nearly 70% of Sherman voters – is the primary driver of the increase. This was not unexpected and was presented as such at the three years of hearings for this project.
We will hold the Annual Town Budget meeting in Charter Hall on April 18 at 10am. This is an opportunity to ask question and make comments in order to get informed to vote on the budget at the referendum to be held on May 2, an in-person vote from 10am to 8pm. Absentee ballots will be available in the Town clerk’s office starting Tuesday, April 21.
In addition to the Annual Town Budget Meeting, on that same date and location (April 18 in Charter Hall), we are holding an extra Town Meeting prior to the budget meeting at 9:30am. There are three Happy Acres expenditures requiring approval and also there will be a rate change in building fees that needs approval.
With deep regret I write that Pastor Michael Smith, the new pastor at The Sherman Church, passed away over the weekend. Michael along with his wife were new residents of Sherman and in the short time that he was here, he touched many lives. I had only recently met Michael through email and phone and, even in that small level of contact, was struck by his friendliness of spirit and vitality. Please keep his family and also the Sherman Church in your prayers. This loss, Michael Smith was 53, comes as a profound shock to the Sherman Church and to Michael’s loved ones. Michael completed his journey here on earth by donating his organs and offering the gift of a better life to many others.
Regarding The Sherman Church, our places of worship are living and breathing entities, and they serve such great importance to any community. The Sherman Church is one of Sherman’s most special places and its survival and success is critical. The congregation felt tremendous elation when they found someone like Michael Smith (who only by coincidence had moved to Sherman) to lead their church. Now, to have that joy tamped down by sudden loss is a challenging situation. So, again, keep this wonderful place, The Sherman Church, in your best thoughts and prayers. And if you ever hunger for some kindness, some positivity in your life, come by some Sunday morning. You’ll leave feeling better.
I wish all Sherman residents a happy and fulfilling Easter and Passover season. Even if neither of these religious events affect you, it’s still a nice time to reflect on all that we have and also, and this is reality, how easily it can be taken away. As I get a little further down the yardstick of life, I think more and more about what the fates might allow. It’s important, I believe, to consider the truly important aspects of our lives – the love of family, good friendship, to laugh, and to be kind.
