Wayland Finance Committee endorses $104.3M budget, MBTA zoning article

WAYLAND — March 18, 2024 — Wayland Finance Committee backs $104.3M budget and splits 6-1 on MBTA zoning. The panel voted 7-0 Monday to recommend a fiscal 2025 omnibus budget of $104,324,475, a $7,648,447 capital plan and a five-year capital program of $47,430,542; finance director Frank Keveney said a $33,892 short-term borrowing interest payment nudged the tax rate from $5.69 to $5.70. The committee split 6-1 on Article T, the town's MBTA Communities multi-family zoning bylaw covering roughly 52 acres across four districts, with member Brian objecting that the 25-acre Mainstone parcel is "99.9 percent" unlikely to be built. Member Steve warned that noncompliance with the Dec. 31 state deadline could imperil about $4.1 million in annual grant funding across 13 programs newly flagged by the Healey administration. The committee also voted 7-0 to defer action on Article NN, a citizen-petitioned "Solar Compact" conservation-cluster amendment, pending a Planning Board hearing.