FinCom Backs $925K Fire Pact, $1.2M Police Plan

FinCom · Meeting of September 15, 2026

Billerica Finance Committee backs $925,000 fire contract with historic staffing boost. The committee voted 10-1 to recommend the three-year deal, which raises daily minimum staffing toward three firefighters per engine after what a union representative called a decades-long goal, with retiring Fire Chief Boyer calling it the closest the department has come to that target "in my career." Members separately voted 10-0-1 to recommend $1.2 million in free cash for phase one of a police station renovation, after member Brian argued a debt exclusion would be more transparent than relying on free cash "year after year." A Select Board member's proposal to define "day-to-day operations" in the town charter failed 4-7, with member Mary calling it an attempt to "downgrade the priorities of the town." The committee also backed a $50,000 veterans-services vehicle contingent on a $477,500 federal VA grant.

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Source: the FinCom meeting of September 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.