Former Selectman Urges Support for Article 14

Dear Westborough Residents, 

The Annual Town Meeting is this Saturday, May 14. As former Selectman and Chairman of the Economic Development Committee for the past three years, I want to express my strong support for Article 14 - A Tax Increment Financing Agreement between the Town of Westborough and eClinicalWorks (2 Tech Works) for the relocation and expansion of their business at 2 Technology Park Dr. 

Three years ago, Town Meeting voted to form an Economic Development Committee (EDC). The stated mission at the time was to " retain existing businesses in Westborough and attract new businesses to Westborough in order to maximize commercial revenues to the town, which will help provide for core services and lessen the burden on residential taxpayers." For the last three years, the EDC, which is a team of seven town officials and five (four voting) Westborough volunteers, has worked diligently to fulfill this mission. The proposed TIF Agreement with eClinicalWorks is one culmination of those efforts. 

eClinicalWorks is a very successful developer of electronic medical records software and has experienced rapid growth in this fast growing sector. They currently employ 400 people in their Westborough facility and were based until recently at 114 Turnpike Rd. Due to their rapid growth, they outgrew the building and had to relocate to a larger facility. They seriously considered other municipalities as well as other states as potential locations to expand. During this time, the EDC began discussions with eClinicalWorks in order to encourage them to stay and grow in Westborough and soon thereafter, at the recommendation of the EDC,  the Board of Selectmen negotiated a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Agreement with eClinicalWorks pending Town Meeting approval. 

Since that time, eClinicalWorks has in good faith moved forward with their relocation and expansion in Westborough at 2 Technology Park Dr. The TIF Agreement is a win-win for the town and eClinicalWorks. According to the Town Manager's calculations, the project with the TIF Agreement will generate an incremental increase to the town in real estate and property taxes at 2 Technology Dr. of $664,000 over the next five years. While eClinicalWorks will save approximately $177,000 over the next five years versus full value taxation, it is a small fraction of the gain by the town. In addition, as part of the agreement, eClinicalWorks has committed to creating 100 new jobs in addition to the 400 existing jobs in Westborough.  

There is a final reason why it is critically important to vote for the TIF Agreement. This is the first TIF Agreement to be negotiated by the Board of Selectmen since Westborough became a TIF-eligible (ETA) municipality at the recommendation of the EDC. All eyes are upon the Westborough Town Meeting vote. A vote to support the TIF Agreement will show the town's good faith in supporting the efforts of the Selectmen and EDC to bring new jobs and revenues to the town. A vote against the TIF Agreement would hurt the town's credibility and could undermine all current and future efforts by the Selectmen and EDC to retain and attract businesses in Westborough. Please vote to support Article 14 at the Town Meeting on May 14. 

Sincerely, 

Rod Jané