Weston Finance Committee approves 10 warrant articles, defers FY22 budget vote

WESTON -- March 18, 2021, Weston Finance Committee splits on FY22 budget, defers vote and clears 10 warrant articles. The committee voted 7-0 to approve a block of routine warrant articles, Chapter 90 road funds, water and Brook School enterprise budgets, public-access cable funding and a new Fire Department COVID testing revolving fund among them, but held its formal recommendation on the $100.89 million FY22 operating package until March 25. Members Karen and Jim said they would support the budget; the chair concurred. Members John McDonald and John Sally said they would not, with Sally arguing the school budget should be cut roughly $900,000 against an 8 percent two-year enrollment decline and calling current leadership "a complete abdication." Bharath Venkataraman said he would support it "grudgingly" but questioned how the $1.8 million road appropriation ties to the town's pavement condition policy. The tax rate would rise from $12.98 to $13.47, with the median tax bill up 5.3 percent. Library Director Jen Warner reported Hoopla digital checkouts grew from 1,252 in 2019 to 7,210 in 2020.