Sherborn Approves First Town Clerk Fee Increases in at Least 16 Years

SHERBORN — March 26, 2026 — Sherborn raises town clerk fees for the first time in at least 16 years. The Select Board voted unanimously Thursday to adopt a new fee schedule proposed by Town Clerk John Doyle, increasing rates for five high-volume services — business certificates rise from $40 to $50, certified copies of vital records from $10 to $15, and marriage intention filings from $25 to $40, effective immediately; dog license fees increase $5 each and take effect November 23, 2026. Doyle benchmarked Sherborn against 20 comparable Eastern Massachusetts towns and found the town below average on three of the five categories, with the largest gap on marriage intentions. The changes are projected to generate approximately $6,085 in additional annual revenue based on 2025 transaction volumes. Resident Sean Colleran cautioned against a revenue-focused approach to municipal fees, telling the board "the taxpayers are already paying us to be there," though members said the goal was cost recovery and market alignment, not profit.