Weston projects 4 percent budget growth on both town and school sides for FY26

WESTON -- October 28, 2024, Weston launches FY26 budget cycle with matching 4 percent increases projected on both sides. At the Oct. 28 Financial Summit, Town Manager Leon Gauthier projected a 4 to 4.25 percent municipal level-service increase, while School Committee member Maya Gooch projected a 4.1 percent school increase, bringing the school budget to just under $50 million from $49.3 million. Finance Director Susan Kelly told the joint boards Weston's long-term liabilities ratio stands at 218 percent of revenue against a 258.2 percent Aaa peer median under Moody's revised methodology. Finance Committee Chair Bharad said roughly $37 million for water tanks, $55 million to $60 million for fire stations and a $200 million placeholder for combined middle and high school work would push Weston "past the max borrowing capacity for even the double-A rating." He told committees seeking new projects that "just stating a need or a want is not going to cut it." Annual Town Meeting is set for May 5.