At their meeting last night, the Board of Selectmen asked the schools to make deep cuts to help minimize the tax increase for residents. Read the full article → from MWDN: Selectmen ask schools to cut $2M from budget
Government
Residents want to make downtown a historic district
Would you like to see a National Register Historic District sign when you drive through downtown Southborough? Main Street resident Ray Hokinson would. He has been emailing neighbors and meeting with town officials in an effort to create a village center historic district. Read the full article → from Residents want to make downtown a historic district
Westborough selectmen postpone CSX discussion
For those of you following the approval process in Westborough for the proposed CSX chemical transfer station, here’s the latest. Read the full article → from Westborough selectmen postpone CSX discussion
The week in government
A list of department and committee meetings for the week. Read the full article → from The week in government
Modest increase in regional school budget, but big increase in Southborough’s assessment
The Regional School Committee unanimously approved a $17.6M budget at their meeting on Wednesday night. While the budget is a slim 0.55% increase over last year, Southborough’s portion of the bill will increase by nearly $400K — a 6.87% increase over last year. Read the full article → from Modest increase in regional school budget, but big increase in Southborough’s assessment
Dykema honored by veterans group
Today, Representative Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) was honored to receive the Legislator of the Year Award from the Massachusetts Veterans Service Officers Association (MA VSOA) Read the full article → from Dykema honored by veterans group
CPA funds: To spend or not to spend, that is the question for voters
Each year at town meeting, voters dole out thousands of dollars collected under the Community Preservation Act to projects that range from historical preservation to open space acquisition to affordable housing. Selectman John Rooney suggested this might be the year for voters to hold some of that cash in reserve. Read the full article → from CPA funds: To spend or not to spend, that is the question for voters
Frost heave damages railroad crossing
A frost heave disrupted pavement at the railroad crossing on Main Street in downtown Southborough earlier this month. Fire Chief John Mauro Jr. said he noticed the problem on a Sunday morning and called the CSX dispatcher. Read the full article → from Frost heave damages railroad crossing
Would you support a tax increase next year?
Finance Director Brian Ballantine presented one version of a balanced budget to the Board of Selectmen last night. It was balanced thanks to $233K in cuts to town departments and $841 in cuts to the schools, but it was a budget that would still result in a 4.36% tax increase next year. That’s something Selectman John Rooney said he cannot support. Read the full article → from Would you support a tax increase next year?
Selectman: ‘We’ll carry on with two as best we can’
Last night was the first Board of Selectmen meeting since the surprise resignation of Chairperson Bonnie Phaneuf last week. Selectman Bill Boland said the only way to add a member to the board mid-term is to hold a special election. Given that regular town elections are in May, Boland said holding a special election now “just doesn’t make sense.” Read the full article → from Selectman: ‘We’ll carry on with two as best we can’
School committee holds off on budget discussion
Superintendent Charles Gobron told the K-8 School Committee last week that the school budget is in a bit of a holding pattern until more information comes in. Read the full article → from School committee holds off on budget discussion
UPDATED: Selectmen consider moving to Medicare for town retirees
Town Administrator Jean Kitchen told selectmen last week that a change in medical plans for retirees could save the town nearly $170K per year. In the face of a $1.1M budget shortfall, selectmen said they were interested in learning more about the proposal. Read the full article → from UPDATED: Selectmen consider moving to Medicare for town retirees
The week in government
A list of department and committee meetings for the week. Read the full article → from The week in government
It’s not just about the schools: Selectmen also ask churches to step up their donations
As you’ve probably heard, Southborough selectmen have been making a push lately to convince tax-exempt nonprofits in town like St. Mark’s and Fay School to increase the amount of their voluntary payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) contributions. Selectman John Rooney said this week that the effort is not limited toe the educational institutions. Later this month he intends to ask Southborough’s churches to increase their PILOT contributoins, as well. Read the full article → from It’s not just about the schools: Selectmen also ask churches to step up their donations