Town presents FY2027 budgets focused on level services and strategic staffing

Advisory Finance Committee · Meeting of January 29, 2026

Westborough departments outlined FY2027 budgets at a joint summit of the Select Board and Advisory Finance Committee on January 29. The school district's $400,000 in staffing reductions through attrition and restructuring accompany a 4.17 percent budget increase, driven largely by special education costs and rising transportation expenses; Superintendent Allison Borchers noted the district supports 32 out-of-district students and is pursuing increased state circuit breaker funding. The town budget aims to maintain level services after last year's 1 percent cut, including restored hours for the Treasurer Collector's Office and Board of Health positions funded by WRTA bus service savings.

Fire Chief Patrick Purcell noted the department has secured $20 million in grant funding over 11 years with annual revenue exceeding $11.5 million, while IT Director Mark Stockman presented capital requests of $275,000 for audio-visual upgrades at Memorial Hall and the Fire Station meeting room. The town plans to hire a consultant to modernize its chart of accounts to improve financial reporting and coordination with the school department.

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Source: the Advisory Finance Committee meeting of January 29, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.