MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro shifted more than $700,000 in surplus funds to cover staffing, legal costs and other budget needs left at the end of the fiscal year — with the fire department receiving the largest share.

The money had already been approved for spending by voters at last year’s town meeting. Middleboro Director of Finance Sue Nickerson emphasized that “we are not asking for any more money. We are just transferring from a surplus budget to a budget that is in a deficit.”

She also explained that if the budget transfers were not approved, it would automatically raise the tax rate next year, as several budget areas would fall into deficit.

Roughly $580,000 — more than 80% of the total transfer — is going to the fire department to fund seven positions, primarily at the recently opened South Station at 566 Wareham St.

Town officials had originally planned to use overtime funds to cover the staffing costs. Using money previously earmarked for debt payments will ensure that the fiscal 2026 budget reflects “the actual stabilized cost of maintaining this staffing level,” said Town Manager James McGrail.

Before the transfer, the debt payment account had a $3 million surplus, according to Nickerson. McGrail said the funds used for the fire department will be offset by future revenue and by “turnbacks” — money that was budgeted but not spent by other departments and returned at the end of the year.

Another significant transfer, $25,000, came from the police department budget to the town’s legal services. The money was necessary to make up for budget overspending due to a lawsuit earlier this year in which Middleboro sued the state over the MBTA Communities Act.

“We were on track to meet the FY25 legal budget until the lawsuit. They’re expensive — litigation is extremely expensive,” McGrail said.

Other notable transfers include $29,000 from the Department of Public Works to the Town Manager’s Office to cover a new employee contract, and $20,000 to cover the printing cost of four years’ worth of town reports.

McGrail said the end-of-year transfers are routine and common practice for communities across the state. The Select Board and Finance Committee unanimously approved the transfers.