Wayland Finance Committee clears five warrant articles, awaits revised budget

WAYLAND — February 26, 2024 — Wayland Finance Committee absorbs a $515,000 health insurance overrun and clears five warrant articles. Finance Director Brian Keveney told the committee Monday that West Suburban Health Group's late assessment pushed the proposed fiscal 2025 budget to a 5.14 percent year-over-year increase, calling the jump "an anomaly" against a 10-year growth rate near 4 percent. To offset the hit, Keveney said the $75,000 transfer station appropriation, a matching surface water quality assessment, and the $60,000 classification and compensation study under Article B will likely shift from taxation to free cash. Member Steve Correa pushed to tap the roughly $2.1 million real estate sale receipts fund to bridge full-day kindergarten costs. The committee approved unpaid bills (6-0-0), OPEB funding as amended (5-0-1), an Athletic Field Planning Committee article (5-1-0), and two town clerk dog bylaw revisions unanimously. All articles are due March 20.