Fire station total cost could be $43M - $49.9M
Shrewsbury girls hockey advances to Elite 8 shrewsbury | 22
Northborough | 10
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Vol. 50 | No. 10 | March 8, 2024
Westborough continues to probe for budget savings By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH – With about two weeks remaining before Annual Town Meeting, the Advisory Finance Committee continues to pore through the fiscal 2025 budget, trying to soften the impact of a “substantial increase” in the town’s property taxes. According to interim Finance Director Jonathan Steinberg, “The increase in taxes for fiscal 2025 is being driven by budgetary factors, not rising property values.” He cited fixed costs (insurance, electricity, etc.) and the school budget, each increasing by $3.45 million. “The total budget increase is projected to be 5.29%,” he said. The school budget accounts for nearly 54% of the total municipal budget. The budget for FY25 is currently $66.966 million, or about 5.44% more than FY24. Most of the increase comes from contracted salary increases. The average value of a single-family home increased by 5%, according to Steinberg. The value for fiscal 2025 is estimated to be $747,327, about $35,500 more than fiscal 2024. “Bear in mind that all of these numbers are estimated projections and change as we get closer to the Fall Special Town Meeting, when we have more information about other receipts, final budget and property values,” said Steinberg. Budget | 12
A Night in the Cold (and rain) to help homeless children By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH – Homemade blueberry scones heated on top of a barrel fire. A small but sweet reward for spending the night in a tent to help raise funds for homeless children. From noon on Saturday, March 2, to the morning of Sunday, March 3, John Bogaert and several volunteers spent “A Night in the Cold” in the Colonial Plaza parking lot on East Main Street. For Eric Hammond, it was his first time staying overnight. “I’ve always supported it,” he said. Proceeds went to benefit Horizons for Homeless Children. In the first few hours of the fundraiser, as rain began to move in, members of the high school’s Westborough Helps the Homeless Club held signs and encouraged drivers to stop Night in the Cold | 12
Members of the high school’s Westborough Helps the Homeless help solicit donations for the annual A Night in the Cold fundraiser on March 2 and 3 at the Colonial Plaza parking lot. (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)
Northborough expected to move to hybrid meetings soon By Evan Walsh Reporter NORTHBOROUGH – Northborough boards and committees will soon have the technology available to hold hybrid meetings. According to Northborough Cable Access Television (NCAT) Director Dana Volke, the Town Hall’s Conference Room B has been outfitted with technology capable of facilitating
hybrid meetings. On March 4, Volke told the Community Advocate that the technology in the Select Board’s Meeting Room is currently being installed. Prior to holding any hybrid meetings, NCAT will work with the Town Hall’s IT Department to “go over security and best practices” and train them how to use the equipment. The technology should be ready in two weeks, Volke said in a March 4 email. Hybrid meetings | 13