Foxboro Coronavirus: Selectmen Vote To Cut Proposed Budget

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The new coronavirus pandemic has created serious challenges for Massachusetts cities and towns as they write their budgets for the next fiscal year, and Foxborough is no different.

The Board of Selectmen have scaled back the initial budget proposal for Fiscal year 2021 by almost $2.3 million. The new proposed budget, which is pending a town meeting vote on June 15, gives the town roughly $83.19 to provide services and pay its employees and other expenses. This still represents a 3 percent budget increase from the previous fiscal year.

Town Manager William Keegan's proposed budget anticipates a $2.5 million reduction to revenue the town can usually rely on. Keegan acknowledged his forecast could change, but predicted revenue losses from the hotel tax, meals tax and lost revenue from Gillette Stadium, the home of the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution. The venue typically hosts summer concerts as well.

Keegan described the new budget as a conservative approach to the impending financial shortfalls.

"All of this is a temporary measure to get us through an emergency situation," Keegan said.

Keegan and Finance Director George Samia also reccomended a hiring freeze, which would cut new positions listed in the original budget draft. New positions in the previous budget draft included a firefighter, a mechanic for the police and fire departments, a youth service librarian and a new health inspector.

They also suggested scrapping $875,600 for vehicle replacemenst and several other big-ticket items. Postponing the West Street dam replacement for at least a year was also recommended.