Finance Committee adopts $52.7 million flat-budget position for FY21

WESTON — May 14, 2020 — Weston Finance Committee locks in a flat $52.7 million non-school budget position ahead of one-twelfth budgeting. The committee voted 8-0 on May 14 to send an open letter to the Select Board calling for a hiring freeze, deferred discretionary and capital spending, and acknowledgment that the School Committee declined to add 13 planned positions. Chair Lisa Reitano, John Sallay and John McDonald were delegated to finalize the language. The committee voted 7-1 to keep Community Preservation Act surcharge-reduction language out of the budget letter; member Ellen joined the majority for unanimity after arguing for inclusion. Assistant Town Administrator Susan warned the $52.7 million target must absorb a roughly $600,000 debt service increase and a roughly $400,000 Middlesex Retirement increase. Town Administrator Leon told members the state of emergency "is not being lifted anytime soon," with Town Meeting tentatively eyed for September. Member Bharath Venkataraman defended the firefighter hiring freeze pending new data: "If we get new data from the fire department which says they're really short of two people... I understand why we need to add these two."