Boxborough Finance Committee Flags $60,000 Police Detail Debt, Backs Free-Cash Solution

BOXBOROUGH -- May 12, 2026, Boxborough Finance Committee weighs free-cash fix for $60,000 in uncollectible police detail debt. Meeting on May 12, with four of six members present, the committee heard from financial staff liaison Honghoa Le that roughly $60,000 in police detail receivables dating to 2014 is expected to be written off, with the current plan routing the write-off through the tax recapitulation, a move that would permanently add $60,000 to the town's levy base. Member Maria Neyland objected, arguing "this is old money that's been paid out that has nothing to do with the taxpayers," and proposed using free cash at an anticipated fall Town Meeting instead. The committee also reviewed ATM presentation slides and directed Chair Tony Newton, absent Tuesday, to add an asterisk to a preliminary tax rate figure and remove regional dispatch consolidation from a list of operational budget challenges, with member Joe Stulpin noting "the net net of regional dispatch was it saved the town money, period." The reserve fund balance stands at $138,508.58 against its $175,000 starting balance following five prior transfers this fiscal year.