By Keith Regan, Contributing Writer
Northborough – In addition to $15 million to fund the Lincoln Street School project, voters at Town Meeting this month will be asked to approve an additional $3 million in capital projects that will be funded at no direct cost to taxpayers.
Town Manager John Coderre presented the Board of Selectmen April 14 a proposed capital budget plan for Fiscal Year 2015 that includes $940,000 in municipal spending and $2.1 million in water and sewer projects.
Free cash and other one-time funding sources will fund the municipal projects, while sewer and water receipts will mainly fund the other work, Coderre noted.
This year marks the fourth straight that Northborough town meeting voters have been presented with a capital budget plan that does not rely on direct taxation for its funding source, as the town implements a long-term financial management plan that uses only a small amount of free cash each year to augment the operating budget.
This year, that fact could resonate more with voters, who will be asked to fund the Lincoln Street School project, which officials estimate will add around $150 per year to the average single-family home tax bill.
“That message could be more important for people to hear this year,” Coderre said.
In all there are nine general fund and 5 water and sewer projects on the capital budget, all drawn from a six-year capital improvement plan.
Proposed expenditures this year include: $66,000 for a fire chief’s vehicle; $175,000 to replace a fire department forestry truck; $195,000 for a DPW dump truck; and $53,500 to replace the police department’s closed circuit television system. All vehicle purchases represent replacements of existing equipment.
Funds are also included for design work on culverts on Otis and Church streets, projects that will cost around $1 million each and will need to be bonded once final cost estimates are available.
The enterprise fund articles include $1.5 million to replace 3,000 water and sewer meters.
Coderre said if all proposed capital purchases are approved by voters at the April 28 Town Meeting, Northborough will carry forward just over a half-million dollars in free cash.