Wayland FinCom recommends $100 million budget, MWRA application

WAYLAND — February 21, 2023 — Wayland Finance Committee advances $100.1M budget and MWRA application. The committee voted 4-0 Tuesday to recommend a $100,106,907 fiscal 2024 operating budget — an 8.02 percent increase — while holding firm on a $600,000 reduction to the school department's request despite an appeal from School Committee Chair Chris Ryan and member Jeannie Downs. A $5,317,372 capital plan passed 3-0-1 after members unanimously added $400,000 for a new elementary math curriculum the schools called a 10-year asset. Article GG, authorizing Wayland to apply to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and appropriating roughly $1 million for design work, also passed 3-0-1, with member Brian O'Hurley abstaining and calling the eventual $20 million to $25 million construction commitment "a legacy decision that's going to last 50 to 75 years." Member Pam Roman cited debt service and union negotiations in defending the school cut.