Boxborough Finance Committee Votes 28 FY26 Budget Lines, Including $1.5 Million Health Insurance

BOXBOROUGH — January 28, 2025 — Boxborough Finance Committee votes 28 FY26 budget lines and flags surging pension costs. The committee approved items ranging from an $80 town moderator appropriation to a $1,497,652 Middlesex County retirement assessment at its January 28 meeting, with the retirement line drawing the most pointed comment from Member Becky Neville, who noted it had grown at a 13 percent rate two consecutive years and warned that "every time we talk about hiring somebody we need to think about that." Town Administrator Mike Goulding confirmed a 14.8 percent health insurance rate increase through the MIIA pool — higher than the budgeted 10 percent — adding roughly $64,000 to the $1,528,993 health insurance line, both of which were approved. The committee also resolved a months-long question about apparent double-billing for mosquito control, confirming the town legitimately pays separately for truck-based spraying through the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project and a distinct helicopter larvicide program costing approximately $18,000 in FY24. Recreation Commission Chair Matt Sperling appeared via video to request a full-time coordinator position but was told by Goulding and committee members that a full-time hire is not feasible in FY26 and that the commission should develop a self-funding fee structure before the question returns for FY27. In committee reports, Member Maria Nayland disclosed that Boxborough's zoning bylaws contain no provision permitting governmental buildings anywhere in town, a gap discovered by the building inspector that could require a town-wide zoning bylaw change before any fire station can be permitted.