Weston Finance Committee moves to engage Select Board earlier in budget cycle

WESTON -- September 9, 2021, Weston Finance Committee opens debate on rewriting its budget-guideline process. Members weighed shifting the committee's input earlier in the cycle after Jonathan Harris reported on how Hanson, Belmont, Dover and Concord structure their guidance, including Concord's July letter and December guideline that precedes department budget finalization. Town Manager Leon Gaumond said any point in the cycle can influence outcomes but agreed early conversations on priorities and capital needs would help; member John Saleh countered that Weston's per-capita taxes run 17 to 34 percent above peers and that "level service plus 5 percent" is "getting off the ground, but less and less easily." Member James Polando framed the committee's only real lever as "persuasion." The chair will approach a Select Board member about a joint working group. Separately, K-12 enrollment was up 66 students as of Aug. 26, and Gaumond presented year-two performance data showing the fire department at roughly $339 per capita operating cost. Member Lisa is resigning mid-term.