Finance Committee tightens FY24 budget review ahead of March 6 hearing

WAYLAND -- February 6, 2023, Wayland Finance Committee narrows FY24 budget with March 6 hearing approaching. Finance Director Brian O'Herlihy reported town departments cut roughly $250,000 from initial requests, including $189,000 in expenses and $54,000 in payroll, with the library alone returning $42,000 it didn't need. Parks is seeking $35,000 to restore a seasonal hiring program eliminated during COVID, and police will need a $60,000 reserve transfer at town meeting plus a $20,000 overtime bump in FY24. Members flagged an AFSCME study that found union salaries 10 percent below market, "the AFSCME salary table has not been updated in 20 years," O'Herlihy said, and pressed for clarity on a $1.5 million energy line whose gas and electric contracts both expire within the budget cycle. The committee approved Jan. 17 and Jan. 25 minutes 4-0 and adjourned at 9:40 p.m.