Weston FinCom reviews five budgets, defers school spending disclosure

WESTON — January 31, 2019 — Weston Finance Committee defers public release of school per-pupil spending analysis. At the Jan. 31 meeting, the committee worked through FY20 budgets for Brook School Apartments, the public library, the Council on Aging and the unclassified category covering benefits, insurance and debt service, before debating how to share concerns about school spending. Library Director Jennifer Warner presented a 2.1 percent increase and confirmed the Weston Art and Innovation Center, with a roughly $300,000 first-year operating budget, will hold a soft opening in May or June. Excluded debt service rises about $400,000 after February's bonding at a 2.598 percent net interest cost, with a $483,342 placeholder pending the May ballot vote on the $7.8 million Case House exclusion and the March Town Meeting vote on the roughly $18 million Town Center utility project. Member John Henry argued the town's taxpayers should see his per-pupil cost analysis; member Lisa countered, "I don't think that's for townwide consumption." A meeting with a school committee member is set for Feb. 12.