Finance Committee model projects 7% to 9% tax-bill increase for FY22

WESTON — December 3, 2020 — Weston Finance Committee preps for financial summit with a model projecting a 7 to 9 percent tax-bill jump. Member John Sally walked colleagues through an interim Excel budget model showing FY22 expenses rising roughly $6 million while non-tax revenues fall more than $2 million, leaving an $8 million levy gap; switching the schools from the COVID "Budget A1" to a return-to-normal "Budget A" drops the projected tax-rate increase from 9 percent to 3.71 percent. Town Manager Leon said early signals suggest state aid will not be level-funded next year, with the governor's preliminary numbers due at the MMA conference in the third week of January. Finance Director Susan reported the pension at 47.2 percent funded and free cash at roughly $4.08 million, down from $6.1 million. Member Lisa Schwalli pushed back on deferring OPEB contributions, warning of "a ballooning, enormous liability," while Sally countered that "you can't go to the town and say, oh, guess what? Your taxes are up 9 percent."