Foxborough Selectmen Want To Cap Budget Growth At 3.5 Percent

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Selectmen do not want next year's budget growth to exceed 3.5 percent, following backlash from residents at annual town meeting last May. The 3.5 percent target is not a hard number; things could change that might make the board to rethink that figure. But based on a preliminary budget forecast from newly appointed Finance Director George Samia, town officials are preparing for a budget that covers level services for the next fiscal year beginning July 1.

Town Manager William Keegan said the proposed budget would have an increase that is slightly lower than the current fiscal year. Keegan initially proposed a 4.3 percent increase for this year, but town meeting voters denied some of the increases including new positions in the water and finance departments. For next year, Keegan said the budget will be no frills and should honor residents' wishes to reign in public spending.

"We've heard that loud and clear," Keegan said at the Nov. 26 selectmen meeting. "People want us to be more conservative."

Samia said his budget forecast for fiscal year 2021 is $88.1 million. He said the level-services budget would cost residents an additional $2.3 million and attributed the increase to union contract obligations and the rising cost of health care for retirees and their pensions. Samia also said the 3.5 percent budget increase would allow the town to make loan payments for capital building projects.

But concerns about spending were not immediately put at ease.

Advisory committee member Jack Martin said the planning board has scheduled housing forums for residents struggling with rising property taxes. Keegan has said that rising property values are fiscally positive.

"Values have risen much higher than the tax rates itself," Keegan said. "That's a function of the entire region. Not just us."

"You can’t spend value at Shaw's and Stop & Shop," Martin said in response to Keegan. "People are concerned with the number that's in their tax bill.

Selectman Chris Mitchell said he's worried about the sustainability of increasing spending. He said revenue from new construction has trended downward over the last three years.

Keegan countered that the commuter rail coming to town and zoning changes that are business friendly have created new opportunities for businesses along Route 1.