Wayland Finance Committee preps for joint MWRA debt-service meeting

WAYLAND — June 23, 2025 — Wayland Finance Committee preps questions on $34M MWRA water debt ahead of joint Select Board meeting. The committee on Monday coordinated its approach for a June 30 joint session with the Select Board and Board of Public Works that will frame how much of $34 million to $35 million in projected water debt should shift from rates onto the tax rate — a decision reserved by statute to the Select Board. Member Brian reported finding only four Massachusetts towns that used the statute, with Arlington reversing course in 2021. Members pressed for distribution modeling across the 10th through 90th percentiles of water users and asked the Board of Public Works to stress-test cost figures at $30 million and $45 million. The committee approved June 2 minutes, seated new member William Huss, and heard from member Iris that the FY27 budget working group sees "a certain level of confidence that we may not need an override."