Boxborough Finance Committee Approves $31.1 Million FY27 Budget at March 24 Meeting

BOXBOROUGH — March 24, 2026 — Boxborough Finance Committee unanimously recommends $31.1 million FY27 town budget and authorizes up to $38,000 for fire truck repairs. The committee voted 6-0 at its March 24 meeting to recommend the $31,144,981 fiscal year 2027 annual town budget, which includes a $17,734,103 regional school assessment and a $187,000 reserve fund. Fire Chief John Kivlin presented a high-priority vehicle repair list totaling approximately $38,000 against a remaining maintenance budget of $13,541, prompting the committee to authorize a reserve fund draw of up to $38,000 as invoices arrive and to add $10,000 to next year's maintenance line, bringing it to $47,360. The committee voted 5-1 against recommending a $116,000 OpenGov permitting software contract — with members Joe Stolpin and John Connor in favor — after members said the revenue-protection rationale amounted to "delayed revenue" rather than a permanent savings and that the funding structure was wrong, with one member stating the ongoing $30,000-per-year cost is "a part-time salary." The committee also voted 6-0 against recommending a Design Review Board bylaw expansion to the Route 111 business districts, saying it would not endorse the change until the town completes a planned revision of its design standards, currently dated to 2000 and 2018.