Wayland Select Board hears $100 million budget, warned override looms in FY26 or FY27

WAYLAND -- April 29, 2024, Wayland Finance Committee warns of looming override as Select Board reviews $100M FY25 budget. The committee formally presented a roughly $100 million operating budget growing 4.6 percent year over year, a $7.6 million capital budget across 27 projects, and a five-year capital plan totaling $47.4 million against nearly $89 million in submitted requests. Estimated taxation rises 5.7 percent to roughly $89.8 million, producing a tax rate of $16.40 versus $15.52 in FY24, with only about $1.5 million remaining under the $91.3 million levy limit. Town Manager Michael McCall flagged a coming capital amendment of about $500,000 for failing wastewater membranes and said Eversource will pull transformers from emergency reserves to meet a June 1 deadline at Baldwin Pond. Departing member Adam said Wayland has "no plan" robust enough for long-term capital and called for resident education before any override vote. The board unanimously appointed Denise Forden to the Wayland Housing Authority over two other qualified applicants.