Southborough Select Board unanimously backs $25 million road bond after divided earlier vote

SOUTHBOROUGH — April 7, 2026 — Southborough Select Board unanimously reversed a split vote to endorse a $25 million road bond and placed four debt exclusion questions on the May 12 ballot. The board voted 5-0 to support Article 13, the Roadway and Sidewalk Improvements borrowing, after Chair Andrew Dennington said a prior 3-2 result "was not reflective of the board's support." The four ballot questions cover roof work at Neary Elementary and Trottier Middle schools, the road maintenance program, and sidewalk construction on Oak Hill, Parkerville, Richards, and Woodland roads; Town Counsel and bond counsel reviewed all language before Tuesday's meeting. The board also heard the FY25 audit exit presentation from Anthony Roselli of Roselli, Clark and Associates, who reported a fifth consecutive unqualified opinion, a AAA bond rating from Standard and Poor's, and a reserve ratio increase from 9.4 percent to 11.7 percent — but flagged a $11.4 million jump in the town's OPEB liability to $54.4 million and warned that the Worcester County pension system, at 52.7 percent funded, faces a "daunting" path to full funding by 2040. KMS Actuaries will appear before the board at its April 28 meeting to address both issues.