Billerica Finance Committee Approves Budgets, Warns Debt Rise Is Unsustainable

BILLERICA — April 2, 2026 — Billerica's Finance Committee approved five department budgets Thursday while warning that debt service costs are headed toward $18.9 million in fiscal 2027. The committee voted 6-2 to recommend the town manager's budget at $1,021,727 — an 8.35 percent increase of $78,703 — after a divided debate in which members cited the town's difficulty retaining experienced municipal staff and the reputational cost of back-to-back town manager departures. Town Manager Chris Pache disclosed that the town spent $514,790 on outside legal services in fiscal 2025, and said he would not recommend moving to in-house counsel under the current arrangement. The committee also voted unanimously to recommend the Planning and Community Development budget at a reduced $209,619, following disclosure that Avalon Bay Communities paid a $550,000 building permit fee last month for housing at the town's mall. Debt service dominated the night's sharpest exchanges, with one member warning "we cannot afford the tech, we cannot afford the lock, we cannot afford the CLA" as projected town-side debt jumped from $13.8 million budgeted in fiscal 2026 to $13.2 million voted Thursday — with the full picture including enterprise funds rising to $18.9 million next year.