The Town of Northborough Appropriations Committee told residents on April 3 it is recommending the warrant for the town budget as it stands while urging caution and further review because several late changes left taxpayers facing a much larger bill than in recent years.

The committee’s staff presenter said the overall draft budget now shows an 8.87% increase in total spending with the single‑family home tax impact being driven higher by the new debt service for the fire‑station project. “We reduced the bond issue by $3,500,000,” the staff presenter said, and later noted a separate reduction of $269,000 in the debt service line and $838,000 in levy pressure after a set of adjustments to local receipts and transfers.

Why it matters: Committee members and several speakers said the combination of large debt service for the fire station, a steep health‑insurance renewal and as‑yet‑unsettled union contracts creates a real risk that the town could face a Proposition 2½ override next year. An override would move the decision from the committee and select board to town voters and could lead to deeper cuts if voters reject a request for more levy capacity.

Committee and public comments
Jason (staff member) walked the committee through a memo describing late changes: general‑contract bids for the fire station came in about $6.5 million below the original budget, staff reduced the first borrowing round and adjusted cash‑flow assumptions, and assessor settlements reduced a projected overlay liability. Jason said those moves together lowered projected levy pressure by about $838,000 but that large line items remain, including the new debt service for the fire station and a steep health insurance renewal.

Resident Fran Backstrand urged caution for taxpayers and asked the committee to weigh impacts on older residents. “I understand it’s advisory,” Backstrand said. “I do want you to be really conscious of that when you make your recommendations to the policy making boards and the town administrator.”

Committee members pressed for tools and next steps. Member Terry Halloran said he would reluctantly recommend approval while urging the select board and town administrator to pursue further reductions and to treat the risk of an override as avoidable. Member Tim Kalin, referencing public‑safety and school quality, said investments cost money but agreed the committee should flag the town’s declining levy capacity for the policy makers.

Numbers discussed
- Overall budget increase with the fire station included: 8.87% (staff projection presented to the committee).
- Single‑family tax impact presented earlier in the process: roughly a low double‑digit percentage in the year the major debt service comes online; committee discussion cited a figure in the 10% range used in earlier budget projections.
- Adjustments the committee reviewed: reduced bond issue by $3,500,000; debt‑service lowered by $269,000; net levy/levy pressure reduced by roughly $838,000 through overlay, local receipts, and transfers.

What the committee did
The Appropriations Committee voted 4–2 to recommend approval of Article 5 (the town budget) to Town Meeting, while recording substantial concern about the size and pace of increases and urging additional work with the town administrator and select board to reduce future levy growth.

What happens next
Committee members asked the town administrator and select board to pursue additional budget adjustments before Town Meeting and to engage the committee if further changes are proposed. Several members said they expect the debate to continue at Town Meeting and noted that the committee’s advisory vote does not bind voters.

— Meeting context: the committee held a lengthy budget review; members and several residents pressed for clearer options for voters and for a cap or explicit guidance for next year.