Fitchburg mayor presents $191.37 million FY2027 budget and package of appropriations to reduce tax rate

Mayor Samantha M. Squailia on Wednesday presented the City of Fitchburg’s Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget to the Council as a Whole Committee, proposing a $191,371,167 General Fund and enterprise budgets totaling roughly $29.45 million for water, wastewater and airport operations.

The mayor said the FY2027 proposal is intended to “continue Fitchburg’s work toward fiscal stability while maintaining the core services residents and businesses rely on every day.” She told the committee the city has narrowed a multi-year budget gap — from an estimated $7.6 million in FY25 to about $2.7 million entering FY27 — but still faces rising costs tied to pensions, health insurance, public safety staffing and utilities.

Squailia outlined measures she said would help close that gap: approximately $2.1 million in estimated annual savings from health insurance negotiations and pharmacy benefit restructuring and about $1 million in new estimated annual revenue from adopting the local meals excise and “right-sizing” the hotel excise. “Fitchburg cannot cut its way into a stronger future. We must continue growing revenues through new businesses, housing development, reuse of vacant buildings, commercial investment, tourism activity, and stronger neighborhood corridors,” she said.

The administration’s packet and the printed agenda include a series of appropriation orders that were introduced and referred to the Council as a Whole Committee rather than voted on Wednesday. ORDER 064-26 lists the Mayor’s FY2027 Operating Budget totals (General Fund $191,371,167; Water $9,997,019; Wastewater $18,316,809; Airport $1,137,919). Other orders on the agenda would apply one-time funds or reserve balances against the tax levy (for example, a $700,000 overlay surplus appropriation and a $250,000 appropriation from stabilization) and fund discrete accounts such as parking meter receipts, PEG access, cemetery personnel, and ARPA contributions to the tax levy.

The Water and Wastewater enterprise budgets were broken into line items in the packet: the Water Enterprise lists Personal Services $2,484,996; Expenses $2,695,000; Indirect Costs $1,597,530; Debt Service $1,739,493; Capital $1,480,000. The Wastewater Enterprise lists Personal Services $3,094,481; Expenses $4,637,600; Indirect Costs $1,710,830; Debt Service $7,196,648; Capital $1,677,250. The Airport Fund packet lists Personal Services $363,206 and Expenses $774,713.

The agenda also includes a proposed revolving fund authorization under state statute (MGL Chapter 44, Section 53E½) and a list of specific revolving funds and authorized officials, with a special FY2027 limit shown for Public Health Sustainability at $750,000. The packet contains an ordinance (077-26) proposing amendments to Chapter 44, Section 10, to add grade-step assignments for FY2027.

Squailia highlighted recent and proposed housing developments as part of the fiscal strategy, including 21 Depot Street (225 units), a proposal at 240 Water Street (more than 200 units), the former courthouse reuse at 84 Elm Street (16 units), 280 Main Street (35 units) and the Fitchburg Arts Community (68 units). She tied those projects to “building the tax base needed to fund police, fire, roads, parks, inspections, the library, senior services, public health, planning, permitting, and the daily work of city government.”

On state aid, Squailia cited data in the packet noting Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) levels and said Fitchburg’s share under a referenced Senate proposal would be about $10.96 million versus an inflation-adjusted benchmark of about $14.61 million — a gap the administration estimates at roughly $3.65 million. The mayor urged continued local revenue growth and shared state advocacy to address limits imposed on Gateway Cities.

No votes were recorded during the committee session on the appropriation orders; the orders were referred to the Council as a Whole Committee for review. Department heads and finance staff listed in the packet — including Auditor Jacquelyn M. Cronin and Treasurer Michaela Horn — were identified as available to meet with councilors for follow-up on specific budget details.

The committee recessed twice during the evening and adjourned at 9:45 PM. The packet and agenda remain the primary record for line-item amounts and statutory references; department staff are the city’s point of contact for questions about specific accounts or programs.