More Revenue Should Come From Town Businesses.

        For a second week in a row, Westford Teacher’s union president Christine Jusseaume came before a January 29, 2026 Finance Committee meeting, held at town hall, and launched into another lengthy harangue accusing the town administration of underfunding the school budget. She broadened her claim to say, that even the Fire Department can’t get the resources it needs to function properly. Jusseame said that it was obvious that the town is having financial problems meeting the demands of all of its department and pointedly asked the select board, who had also joined this meeting, if they intended to do something about this.  She said they can’t just sit back and do nothing, calling that “irresponsible”.  She expressed sympathy for the residential taxpayers in town and said that she understood the town could not just keep raising residential property taxes. Then she suggested that the tax rate be reconsidered and that more of the burden be shifted to commercial property owners.   Select board member Tom Clay responded saying that the town must be cautious about shifting the burden to commercial properties. He said that the Board has been working hard to attract new business to build up the town’s commercial tax base.

 SCHOOL COSTS HOLD STEADY BUT FY2028 WILL BE A CHALLENGE

 One Time Funds From Reserve Accounts To Dry Up Next Year

     School Superintendent Chris Chew and School Finance Director Jenny Linn appeared before the January 29, 2026 Finance Committee meeting and presented their case for a 3.03% increase in School Department spending from 69K to 71K over last year.  The main cost driver continues to be the settlements reached with the Teacher’s Union and the other unions affiliated with the school department three years ago.  The actual scale of these settlements remains somewhat unclear. However, IZON has learned that raises in this third and final year of the settlement with some unions were as high as 4.6%.  Dr Chew has stated, that when union salaries increase, he feels compelled to raise the salary of the administrative leadership staff because he does not want teachers making more than principals.  The schools also shelled out money to hire a full time psychologist claiming that it was cheaper than contracting out that service.

       Dr. Chew said that there was an impasse between his request to the town manager this year and her commitment to the school budget.   The town allotment to the schools was 226K short of what Dr. Chew requested.  He said that this will impact the compensation reserve, as negotiations with school unions begin this year.  Additionally, some popular on-line learning subscriptions were placed on hold, and the school maintenance budget was underfunded.

         Offsets realized from the various school reserve accounts totaled 2.7M.  In past years, these funds just sat in the reserve accounts. In 2024, during the override battle,  the Finance Committee, urged the transfer of these funds from reserves to the school’s operating budget.  The School department took the hint and initiated a detailed process for doing this. This change has dramatically assisted in supporting school operations over the last three year without requiring increases from the town’s general fund. The reserve fund offsets coupled with state SPED reimbursements boosted the revenue for the school budget by 7M taking considerable financial pressure off the town.   However, Dr. Chew warned that this was the last year that these funds would be available. He said that next year, the schools were bracing for a 465K shortfall/

          Total school enrollment in Westford now stands at 4591.  Dr Chew explained that research done by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) and others indicates that student population for the town and the region has flatlined for at least the next decade.  He described the school choice program as stable and indicated that the town receives 5K from the state for every student, who transfers to the school system from outside communities.  If the student has special needs, the town can receive up to 7K.   Dr. Chew disclosed the school policy on receiving out of town transfers.  Westford Teachers, who live out of town, can apply to enroll their children in Westford and the town will accept them. However, new enrollments involving children of teachers do not come with the state money, that is ordinarily attached, because this is a local policy.

              School priorities heading in to FY 27 and beyond are maintaining a 15 student maximum class size for grades pre-K to third grade and preserving access to advance placement in the upper grades.  Dr Chew contrasted contemporary learning in Westford today from that experienced by most of the adults attending the meeting.  He said that the education years ago consisted of large groups of students sitting in a classroom with teachers pushing out information. Today, school learning involves smaller groups of five students, who learn in collaboration with each other under the guidance of teachers, interventionists and assistants. He said that the experience is very different from years ago.  He added that many of the students are on Individual Educational Plans (IEPs).

POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINS IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT POLICY

 Crime Rate Remains Low and Stable : More Data Needed To Gauge  Service Demand

       Police Chief Mark Chambers and Deputy Chief James Peloquin came before the Finance Committee to discuss their 7M budget request, which represents a .67% over last year. Finance Committee member Nate McKinnon asked for an explanation of the department’s policy with regard to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency’s (ICE) crackdown that is underway in many states.  Chambers responded by stating that the Westford Police have no responsibility for ICE enforcement, other than to enforce criminal warrants and to assist with maintaining order in conjunction with ICE operations in town.  The WPD have no authority over ICE administrative warrants. The only intervention responsibility the police have in relation to an ICE operation is to intervene in the case of excessive force by a federal agent.

            The Chief explained his concerns over minimum staffing for police patrols in town. The current minimum staffing level is three patrols.  By establishing minimum staffing, he has the authority to order officers to duty on overtime to fill gaps in the minimum manning level.  He would like to raise the level to four patrols.  He disclosed that service demand along the Route 110 corridor is increasing. He is anticipating a significant spike in that demand, when the new  MBTA zoning apartments come on line.  Currently, overall calls for service increased from 28K to 32K.  Finance Committee member Dennis Galvin cautioned that using gross numbers to determine increasing demand is not a sound practice.  He said that the amount of resources commitment in terms of personnel and the time commitment to the call need to be captured to truly grasp the demand.  Chief Chambers responded by saying the department does not have the software to do that.  He said that he was considering doing a random sampling of calls in which he would evaluate the extent of the commitment of time and personnel but added that this would be time consuming exercise.

          Overall, the crime and order situation in Westford remains stable.  Incidents of crimes against persons and property remain low. Motor vehicle accidents dropped slightly from the 500 mark last year. There was one fatal accident in FY 2025.  The issuance of protective orders usually associated with domestic violence slightly increased from 50 to 56.  One incident item that did increase significantly was that related to mental health emergency custody orders taken by the police.  The number shot up from 74 last in FY24  to 121 in FY 25.  The Chief offered that domestic tensions across the nation may be accounting for this.  The chief was credited for reporting incidents of drug overdoses with the Board of Health. This was the first year this data has been publicly reported.  Ten drug overdose incidents with one fatality were reported.

 Reader Comments

 CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT PAY AS YOU THROW !

 Trash Collection in Westford Has Historically Been Paid By Taxes Not Fees

A Reader From Precinct One:  Boston Road Area Says:     

              The new town manager needs to be updated to the fact that trash pickup was included in our taxes (way back ago).  As far as I know, there was no stipulation of volume at the time (there could be) but the 90 gallon volume is widely held as a reasonable amount.   Going to this “pay as you throw” is a way to increase our local taxes, without getting town meeting approval (representing – using the previous 90gal. volume – another $300 per household per year or $1.65M from the whole town – you can see how they can pay for someone with the monies).  The new position should also be considered as needing town approval – in a time with “structural deficiencies” in the town’s finances adding a headcount (a so called “analyst” when the reality does not call for such expense! Honestly do people not know how to be prudent with our tax monies and figure out better ways…?).  This additional cost should be critically examined — especially when other departments may be asked to cut persons.  And this idea should be vetted and approved by town meeting.   Westford needs to prepare itself for service cuts /reductions – not expansions.  The way things are looking there will not be any funding from the state or the federal government, the first is looking at declining revenues and hoarding all we can, while the fed is cutting as many things as they can (and they do not like blue states like MA).

 WHAT HAS CHANGED IN EDUCATION ?

 Teacher Union Claims Of Understaffing Sound Absurd

A Reader From Precinct 3 Drew Farms Area Says:

My generation attended school in a classroom system with typically 25 to 30 students, and we went to the moon. We created the computer. We crested the artificial heart. With “no” teaching assistants. What does the current batch do? Complain that their 7 Teaching Assistants program was reduced to 4.

SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT RETURN ON OUR EDUCATION INVESTMENT

 So What is Wrong With Getting Good Quality For A Reasonable Price

 A Reader from Precinct 2  Graniteville Road Area Says:

      Congrats to the school department for spending the least amount in whatever the “market basket” towns are, but ranking amongst the tops in performance! I remember arguing with John Crissafulli over the same thing when he was whining about our lower cost per student. Told him he should get a bonus for doing exactly the right thing, lower cost, high performance. It was a foreign concept to him.

Finance Committee Meeting – January 29th, 2026 | Westford, MA