Finance Committee names working group to study budget-guideline overhaul

WESTON -- June 10, 2021, Weston Finance Committee opens push to replace "level service" with upfront budget guidelines. The committee voted unanimously June 10 to reappoint Lisa Reitano as chair and tasked a three-member working group, Reitano, James Jarrett and newly seated member Jonathan Harris, to study guideline practices in peer towns. Harris, who works as Concord's budget and purchasing director, told colleagues Concord's Finance Committee issues a dollar-figure guideline by Nov. 30 each year, separately for town government, K-8 schools and the regional high school. Member John Sally said Weston's tax bill on existing property rose roughly 5.4 percent this cycle against Concord's 2.3 percent, though Harris cautioned the figures may not be apples-to-apples. Town Manager Leon urged early engagement with the Select Board and School Committee, warning members that "people have been talking at each other, not with each other." Member Bharath Venkataraman separately reported the Memorial Pool project is estimated at $2.2 million and pickleball courts at roughly $500,000 for four courts.