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Southborough advisory backs FY27 spending plan, flags Atwood remediation and health‑plan savings
Summary
The advisory committee recommended a $73.46 million FY27 budget to the Town of Southborough, excluding an $823,000 Atwood remediation item pending further review. Members highlighted a proposed high‑deductible health plan that, if widely adopted, could save the town roughly $750,000 annually.
The Town of Southborough Advisory Committee voted unanimously March 16 to recommend the FY27 spending plan to town meeting, approving a total expenditure of $73,455,973 as presented while deferring an $823,000 remediation item for the Atwood site pending select board and DPW clarification.
The advisory’s recommendation followed a presentation showing a current budget position of about $553,000 and a 4.64% year‑over‑year increase. Andrew, speaking for advisory staff, said benefits assumptions were made more conservatively after recent adjustments by the town administrator, and that some capital items (notably one truck) were pushed to the following year to reduce the immediate ask.
The committee also spent substantial time on employee health plans. Kathy, noting the assumptions baked into the FY27 estimate, said the budget assumes only limited uptake of a new high‑deductible health plan (HDHP) with an HSA option. “If everybody were to move over to the high‑deductible health plan, we would save, and this is such a big number, another $750,000 a year,” Kathy said, urging an employee outreach effort during open enrollment in May. Staff and advisory members said the town will use educational tools (including a benefits calculator referenced by Harvard’s program) to help employees decide.
Members also debated whether a separate capital ask for Atwood remediation should proceed now. Howard argued the advisory never received the breakdown of remediation options (basic repair versus full encapsulation) and suggested delaying the $823,000 item to a fall town meeting to decide the site’s long‑term purpose before committing to a large cleanup. Kathy volunteered to check with town staff on regulatory timing and any state deadlines; the item was removed from the advisory’s budget recommendation pending that confirmation.
The advisory’s recommendation and the next steps: the committee voted its endorsement for the FY27 budget and asked staff to (1) confirm any regulatory deadlines related to Atwood remediation before the town votes, and (2) begin outreach and education about the HDHP/ HSA option ahead of May open enrollment so the town can better predict plan uptake and possible savings.
