Wayland selectmen receive FY22 budget calling for 2.92 percent increase

WAYLAND -- December 14, 2020, Wayland unveils FY22 budget with 2.92 percent increase before schools are added. Town Administrator Louise Miller and Finance Director Brian Keveney presented a $19.6 million town departmental budget, up just $170,000, or 0.88 percent, alongside a $24.4 million unclassified budget rising roughly $1.1 million on what Keveney called "committed" increases: $67,000 more for vocational education at Minuteman, a $196,000 retirement assessment bump, a 7 percent or $595,000 health insurance increase and $390,000 added to the reserve for unsettled contracts. No new full-time town employees are proposed; police cruisers now cost over $50,000 each, forcing the fleet to shrink by one unmarked vehicle. Member Dave Watkins, citing taxpayer affordability, pushed to use free cash for reserves, saying anything to "minimize the tax burden" should be on the table. The board also appointed Stephanie Lynch to the Housing Authority 7-0 and Bill Whitney to the Route 20 South Landfill Advisory Committee 5-0.