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Town manager presents balanced FY27 budget as fixed costs push up overall increase
Summary
Town Manager Paige presented a balanced FY27 budget that increases overall spending 4.37% (4.2% general fund), driven mainly by education and fixed costs including health insurance and pensions; the select board voted to approve the recommended budget.
Town Manager Paige presented a recommended balanced budget for fiscal 2027 to the Foxborough select board on Feb. 17, proposing an overall operating increase of 4.37% and a 4.2% rise in the general fund driven primarily by education and fixed costs.
"I submitted a balanced budget for fiscal year 2027 for the board and the public's consideration," Paige said, outlining a plan developed with finance staff and department leaders to maintain level services with a target around 3% while acknowledging higher fixed‑cost pressures.
Key drivers include collective bargaining obligations for schools, special education and student transportation costs, and increases in fixed costs such as health insurance, property and liability insurance and pension assessments. Staff said the general fund increase translates to roughly $3.9 million, and education accounts for about 47.7% of total operating spending.
To balance the budget, staff identified $846,569 in townside reductions and deferred several requested new general‑fund positions (including a mechanic and IT support specialist). The recommended plan reduces reliance on one‑time revenues by $100,000 and directs overlay and free cash primarily to capital lines identified in the budget book.
Finance staff briefed the board on revenue assumptions (a 2.5% levy limit increase, $850,000 in projected new growth, and modest state aid increases tied to the governor's proposal) and noted several open items—final state aid, insurance renewals and school assessments—expected to be resolved in March. Advisory committee hearings are scheduled through mid‑March; final town and select board actions fall later in March.
During board discussion members praised the work and expressed a desire to remain lean while emphasizing the constraints posed by contractual fixed costs. After discussion a board member moved to approve the town manager's recommended budget; the board voted in favor.
Next steps: staff will finalize remaining numbers when state and insurer renewals are available and present updated figures to the board before town meeting deadlines.
