FOXBORO - Financial opportunity, as well as pain, are expected to mark the new year.

A top priority will be to help the Kraft Group's reported aim to build a high-tech office park - possibly centered on biotechnology - across Route 1 from the Gillette Stadium-Patriot Place complex.

"That's my goal. Let's get it going so we can get a micro-economy going," selectmen Chairman Mark Sullivan said.

With Kraft officials present, Sullivan in November joined Gregory Bialecki, state undersecretary of business development, in announcing a town-state partnership aimed at expediting development of 1.5 million square feet of office space and 150,000 square feet of retail space.

The Kraft group has yet to file construction plans with the town. But in time, such a project will mean new tax revenues for the town, Sullivan said. Nonetheless, older priorities remain.

A potential $13 million repair of Foxboro High School, with help from the Massachusetts School Building Authority and from voters through a hoped-for debt exclusion override, is next on Sullivan's list, followed by the dusting off of plans to renovate town hall with help from the sale of surplus town land and possibly the old fire station.

For Town Manager Andrew Gala and Finance Director Randy Scollins, getting through the financial down cycle without cuts in services will be a challenge.

The town this year also needs to decide its level of participation with Manfield and Norton in a proposed regional sewer system.

"We are at a crossroad," and need to settle that issue, Scollins said.

Some Foxboro residents fear being forced onto an expanded sewer system with whopping household bills for betterments and tie-ins.

Hearing those worries, the board of water and sewer commissioners has changed course, and now wants to commit to buying a set amount of disposal capacity in the regional system, deciding later how to use that capacity.

The new year will mean a new fire chief for Foxboro - the third new chief in about seven years. A five-member panel led by Gala has been interviewing some of the 18 applicants. Fire chief Gerald McNamara was scheduled to retire Saturday.