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Town manager paints a cautious fiscal picture as Westford touts grants and projects
Summary
Town Manager Kristen Lass told Town Meeting Westford secured millions in grants and rebates and advanced several capital projects, but warned FY27 relies on one-time funds and rising costs (health insurance, maintenance, energy) will stress the budget passed this year.
Town Manager Kristen Lass delivered the State of the Town to Westford's 297th meeting, balancing a list of recent accomplishments with a cautionary budget outlook.
Lass told voters the town had secured more than $2.2 million in grant funding and roughly $581,000 in utility rebates and highlighted a $1 million-plus earmark for work at the PAS water treatment plant alongside state contributions of more than $15 million to the Boston Road project. "We have shown over the past year that we are responsive and responsible town government," Lass said, listing staff recruiting successes, emergency-response exercises, and new harnessed grants and rebates.
At the same time, Lass said General Fund pressures remain. "Costs are rising faster than projected revenue growth under Proposition 2— and the fiscal 26 and 27 budgets rely on planned use of one-time funds to maintain key services," she told the meeting. Among items that worry staff are health-insurance increases, retirement liabilities, deferred maintenance, and higher wastewater-treatment costs. Lass also related Westford Public Schools budget movements, noting a 4.8% overall general fund budget increase and steps the schools are taking to manage non-general fund reserves.
Lass recommended reinstituting professional development funding, investing in technology to improve resident experience, and continuing long-term capital planning; she also told the meeting that the town is pursuing a hybrid operational analyst position tied to a pay-as-you-throw program that could yield net savings of about $124,000.
Why it matters: the town's budget for FY27 will go into effect July 1, and the manager's presentation sets the priorities and risks that Town Meeting will weigh as voters approve warrant articles.
