Foxborough Budget Proposal Calls For 5.8% Increase

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Town Manager William Keegan reccomended a $85.46 million budget for the new fiscal year beginning July 1. If approved, the budget would increase by $4.69 million, 5.8 percent more than the current levels.

Keegan in a presentation at Tuesday night's selectmen meeting said school spending would increase by 3.82 percent, and the rest of the town's operational spending would increase by 2.74 percent.

But most of the budget growth is coming from a 16.2 percent increase to the water and sewer budget and a 8.42 percent rise in fixed expenses, which primarily come from interest payments on loans and employee pensions. The water budget, though part of the overall budget, is separate because its self-funded and collects revenue from water and sewer fees as opposed to property taxes.

Keegan told the selectmen without the $2.2 million for debts and water and sewer expenses, the increase would have been around 3.28 percent.

"It's a pretty responsible budget , actually," Keegan said. "Anybody who says otherwise is just not telling the truth.

According to Keegan, 60 percent of the budget would come from property taxes. Here's a breakdown of some of the biggest ways this budget would be payed for:

• Property taxes - $52 million
• Local receipts - $10.7 million
• Water and sewer fees - $8.65 million
• Savings and surplus fund: $1.1 million

Another $8.54 million could come from state aid, but Keegan said this number could change during the state budget process. He said even with dipping into the surplus fund, the town will still have $4.76 million in free cash. But Selectmen David Feldman said he'd like to see a plan for "recharging" the money taken out of that account.

Keegan said the budget also calls for two new full time positions, one in the fire department and a mechanic at the public safety building. Several part time positions were also included in the budget. They include a youth services librarian and a new health inspector.

Hiring a new firefighter would allow the department to staff third ambulance. Keegan said because ambulance runs already bring in about $100,000 a month in revenue, the position should pay for itself.

Keegan said the selectmen should approve or make adjustments to his proposed budget within the next two weeks, to make sure the advisory board has time to review it.