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Westborough Advisory Finance Committee approves two internal transfers, discusses budget timing
Summary
The Advisory Finance Committee approved a $60,000 transfer in the water enterprise and a $10,000 transfer to central purchasing, heard public comment urging a 2.5% growth limit on next year’s budgets, and discussed earlier budget engagement and ARPA interest funds.
The Westborough Advisory Finance Committee approved two intra-department budget transfers and spent much of its June 3 meeting discussing budget timing and planning for the coming fiscal cycle.
At the meeting in Memorial Hall, the committee voted unanimously to transfer $60,000 within the water enterprise from salary and wages to water expense to cover electricity bills. The chair summarized the reason for the request, saying usage rose about 4% while the electricity rate rose “by 43%,” and noted the request stays within the enterprise fund rather than drawing on town reserves. McMahon moved the transfer; Clap seconded. The roll-call vote was 7–0 in favor.
The committee also approved a separate $10,000 transfer from youth and family services salary and wages to central purchasing to cover postage and copier contracts. A staff presenter said postage has driven much of the overrun; McMahon moved the transfer and Brandt seconded. That motion also passed 7–0.
Before the votes, resident Joe Considine used the public comment period to present a seven-town tax-rate comparison and urged the committee to recommend a 2.5% cap on departmental growth next year. “For next year, I cannot support a budget for greater than 2 and a half percent growth, and we’ll vote no if the budget exceeds this amount,” Considine said.
Committee members and staff then spent much of the evening on budget process questions: whether the AFC should begin conceptual discussions in the summer, how to make the September budget kickoff more useful, and when meaningful revenue figures will be finalized. The chair noted that, as of June 3, state aid numbers for fiscal 2025 were not yet final and that revenue forecasts remain subject to change.
Liaison reports covered the municipal building committee’s consultant RFP process for a country-club feasibility study, library building committee progress amid staff turnover, and ARPA planning. AFC members were told there is roughly a ballpark of $200,000 in ARPA interest that may be available for new proposals; the committee expects an ARPA proposal at its June 17 meeting. Pete Dunbeck will return July 8 with further analysis of green-project scenarios.
The committee approved the May 9 minutes and adjourned. The body thanked Westboro TV for live-streaming the meeting.
