Finance Committee briefed on emergency July budget as Town Meeting slips to September

WESTON — June 4, 2020 — Weston Finance Committee absorbs first one-twelfth budget as Town Meeting slides to September. Town Manager Leon Gaumond told the committee June 4 that the July submission going to the Select Board on June 9 will exceed a literal one-twelfth share because it must cover the Middlesex Retirement assessment, August debt-service interest and the start of paving season, while excluding OPEB, new hires and any new programs. Finance Director Susan projected an FY21 recreation loss of roughly $42,000 from the summer closures, with the FY20 hit from refunded fees reaching $300,000 to $400,000; the enterprise fund can amortize losses over three years. Member John Sally pressed Gaumond to build a full 12-month spreadsheet, arguing that "if you just give us a month budget, it's going to be impossible to look at that." Gaumond identified roughly $1.069 million in CARES Act reimbursement against PPE, plexiglass and Chromebook expenditures, but said current rules bar using the funds to backfill lost revenue.