Billerica Select Board approves $3.65 million town center redesign, ratifies FY27 budget

BILLERICA — March 2, 2026 — Billerica Select Board approves $3.65 million town center overhaul and ratifies a contested FY27 budget carrying a projected 5.85 percent tax levy increase. The board voted unanimously Monday to proceed with a redesign of the town center that includes new HAWK pedestrian signals, concrete sidewalks, repaving, a new signalized left turn from River Street, and replacement of deteriorating mast arms — all within the $3.65 million already available from a 2023 town meeting article and a $1.5 million federal grant through Senator Trahan's office. In a separate unanimous vote, members directed Town Manager Chris Dillon to investigate funding for a $300,000 ornamental mast arm upgrade to match adjacent completed segments. On the budget, Dillon presented an FY27 proposal in which shared costs — led by an 18.3 percent health insurance increase totaling more than $3.4 million and a 28.7 percent jump in DPW facility debt — pushed the gross increase to roughly 7 percent before a planned draw from the town's debt stabilization account lowers the effective levy impact to 5.85 percent. Select Board member Dina Favreau abstained, saying she received the 277-page budget book less than 72 hours before the required vote. The board also declined, on a 2-2 tie, to place a Charnstaff Lane two-way conversion on the state TIP list, and voted unanimously to pause major sewer expansion in favor of repairing aging infrastructure showing 1.4 to 1.5 million gallons per day of inflow and infiltration.