Weston Finance Committee votes to recommend OPEB and road-work cuts

WESTON — March 23, 2020 — Weston Finance Committee urges sweeping FY21 budget cuts as pandemic hits. Meeting remotely Monday under Gov. Baker's emergency order, the committee voted 7-1 to recommend cutting the town's $2.2 million OPEB contribution "by up to half," with member James the lone no vote on grounds the reduction should go further. The draft report also calls for trimming road repair from $2 million to $1.2 million, canceling a $100,000 school campus feasibility study, and reducing a planned sustainability coordinator to contract work. Member Karen urged the town to adopt "a depression mentality and start thinking about protecting our cash." Select Board member Laurie Bentley, listening in, cautioned against panic: "Make a plan, stick with it, don't act out of panic." The committee will "not oppose" the School Committee's budget, a 1.7 percent increase adjusted for lost solar credits and special-ed mandates.