Wayland eNews

Budgeting

Proposed Fiscal 2009 Budget

FY08 Budget Book

11/19/07 Public Forum Presentation

Wayland Groups

Save Our Services

Responsible Spending Voters Project

Articles

Boston Globe 5/1/08: Tax wars in the trenches Override backers, foes use campaign tactics to woo local voters.

Wayland Town Crier 4/15/08: Wayland Town Meeting OKs $60.4 million budget.

Metrowest Daily News 4/13/08: After override, Wayland looks to future, not expecting an override for the next fiscal year. The town is working to develop more commercial tax revenues from the Town Center and to realize efficiencies from the newly approved DPW.

Metrowest Daily News 4/13/08: Overrides passing in tough times. Of four overrides in Metrowest towns thus far this year, three have passed (Natick, Wayland and Hudson), with only one failure (Sudbury).

Metrowest Daily News 3/30/08: Effect of proposed Wayland override not yet clear. Under debate is whether failing the override would detrimentally affect Wayland's bond rating, and how much impact a reduced rating would have. Moody's review of Wayland is available online.

Wayland Town Crier 3/27/08: Finance Committee explains need for override, noting that cost growth in utilities, pensions and health care eat up almost the entire 2.5% of allowable tax growth without an override. Revenue growth has been slow, and many fees have already been increased.

Wayland Town Crier 3/18/08: Selectmen vote 4-1 to endorse override. If the override fails, the Finance and School departments project the town would lose two police officers, at least two teachers or counselors at every school, many school sports and activities, as well as staff in the Recreation and Highway departments. Other cuts would include reducing library hours from 67 to 57 and only keeping the Council on Aging open four days a week. For more information on the override, visit WaylandeNews' Override Resource Center.

Wayland School Committee 3/13/08: 2 1/2 school configuration for the 2008-09 school year. Q&A from the School Committee on the reconfiguration decision.

Boston Globe 3/9/08: Override mom activists strike a nerve. A follow-up to last week's story on "Override Moms", this article describes the region's reaction to the story (the story itself omits the photo of SOS' Lisa Valone that graced the Globe West print edition and the online Globe's home page).

Boston Globe 3/9/08: Planners pin hopes on a new override: drastic cutbacks are threatened, including an array positions, from police and firefighters to classroom elementary teachers, and hours at both the library and town building offices. To calculate the cost impact of the override to you, visit our override tax estimator.

Boston Globe 3/2/08: Moms for more taxes: women lobby for overrides as Massachusetts towns struggle. Groups of women across the state, including Save Our Services in Wayland are banding together to save services in their towns.

Boston Globe 2/7/08: Parents await word on schools. Parents at both Loker and Happy Hollow hope their school will remain open.

Wayland Town Crier 2/6/08: Finance Committee presents $1.9 million figure for override.

Wayland School Committee 2/6/08: The School Committee newsletter provides details on the final public forum before they decide how to reconfigure the schools for next year.

Finance Committee 2/4/08: Proposed Fiscal 2009 Budget

Wayland School Committee 2/2/08: Concluding the school configuration discussion and decision. The School Committee will continue to gather information to guide their decision regarding which school to partially close (the kindergarten school) for next year. A public forum will be held on February 11 before they make a final decision.

Wayland Town Crier 1/29/08: School Committee adopts 2 1/2 school model for next school year, voting unanimously to partially close either Loker or Happy Hollow. The move will save around $250,000, helping to cut the amount of an upcoming override request.

Metrowest Daily News 1/27/08: Decision on school cuts looming, as the School Committee debates whether to change the elementary school configuration.

Boston Globe 1/23/08: School districts strained as state funds fall short. Inflation and operating costs have far outpaced state spending on education, putting intense financial pressure on school districts across the state, according to a preliminary report released yesterday. The report comes as state lawmakers prepare to debate a new budget proposal in what is expected to be a tight fiscal year. The report warned that under the current state budgeting system, even affluent districts might be on the brink of trouble.

Wayland School Committee 1/17/08: School Committee opts to reconsider elementary school reconfiguration. In light of guidelines from the Finance Committee that will not enable level services funding even with an override, the School Committee is reconsidering whether going to a 2 1/2 school model might be the least damaging way to cut the school budget.Boston Globe 1/17/08: Mixed views on bike trail. As Waltham moves ahead with their portion of the Wayside Rail Trail, Weston wonders what role it can play in shaping the path it once stood alone in rejecting

Wayland Town Crier 1/8/08: School officials paint dire picture without override. As a rough estimate, Superintendent Gary Burton said he would likely lay off five elementary school classroom teachers, elementary technology, library and music teachers, Middle School classroom teachers of English, math, social studies and science, and High School teachers of language, math, technology and physical education. Also cut would be all Middle School athletics as well as the High School golf team.

Metrowest Daily News 12/31/07: Towns worry numbers won't add up in '08. Wayland is among many MetroWest towns looking at possible overrides in the spring.

Wayland Town Crier 12/4/07: Finance Committee anticipates $2.6 million shortfall.

Wayland School Committee 11/28/07: School Committee maintains three elementary schools in their proposed budget for 2008-09, and conveys a working group to evaluate which elementary school makes more sense to close when appropriate.

Wayland Town Crier 11/1/07: Reconfiguration of elementary schools a possibility. School officials are looking at the options for budget reductions, including changing from neighborhood schools to grade-based schools.

Wayland Town Crier 4/27/06: Huge turnout in Wayland as voters pass override.

Boston Globe 4/20/06: Override vote upcoming in Wayland.

Wayland Town Crier 4/20/06: Expressing opinions about the override: no photo please

Boston Globe 4/1/06: Many towns struggling with overrides. Reduced state aid is forcing many towns to choose between reduced services or higher taxes.

Wayland Town Crier 3/29/06: Town begins detailing the cuts that would be required should the upcoming override fail. Cuts would include the closing of Cochituate Fire Station most of the time, the restructuring of the Elementary Schools splitting the children by grade rather than neighborhood, cutbacks in staff and hours throughout town services and schools.

Wayland Town Crier 3/23/06: Schools prepared to implement cutbacks and school restructuring should override fail.

Metrowest Daily News 3/22/06: Selectmen back override. Having cut $1.7 out of the deficit, the Selectmen felt that further cuts would not be reasonable. Among the cuts cited should the override fail: "the elimination of school librarians, school extracurricular activities, traffic guards, two police officers, two firefighter/EMT positions and an emergency dispatcher".

Wayland Town Crier 3/16/06: Selectmen back $2.1 million override. In a 4-1 vote, Selectmen opted to follow the recommendation of the Finance Committee for a single choice, $2.1 million override.

Wayland Town Crier 2/23/06: Finance Committee recommends $2.1 million override. Rejecting a larger amount that would provide fully level services for next year or further replenish free cash, or a smaller amount that would require larger cuts in the budget, the Finance Committee opts to recommend a $2.1 million override for FY07. The initial shortfall estimated in September was $3.3 million; measures to reduce the override amount were successful in cutting 36% of the original gap.

2/18/06: The Finance Committee held a Public Hearing on Feb. 16 to review the budget for FY07 and override options. The Finance Committee has voted to support a $2.1 million override, but not to include on the ballot a higher override option which would restore all services to current levels and/or replenish our cash reserves.

Wayland Town Crier 2/16/06: Selectman Reiss argues for override options.

Wayland Town Crier 2/9/06: Recommended school budget would require an override.

2/8/06: The School Committee presented its recommended budget in a public forum on February 2. The School Committee has developed a summary of their recommended budget for the next fiscal year detailing how it differs from the current year, and how it has changed since Dr. Burton's 1/9 Budget. For comparison, review also the "-8% budget" previously developed.

Boston Globe 2/2/06: Romney's plan increases school aid, but not much. Romney's budget would send $100,000 more to Wayland schools than prior year.

Boston Globe 2/2/06: Districts joining together to fight for more school aid. Towns ask for minimum of $2000/student in state aid. Officials from Andover, Bedford, Belmont, Boxborough, Concord, Harvard, Littleton, Minuteman Regional, North Reading, and Winchester, Acton, Lincoln, Maynard, Natick, Needham, Sudbury, and Wayland are looking to increase aid and prevent deterioration of school systems.

1/25/06: The School Committee met on 1/23 to discuss the recommended budget. The School Committee has developed a summary of their recommended budget for the next fiscal year detailing how it differs from the current year, and how it has changed since Dr. Burton's 1/9 Budget.

Metrowest Daily News 1/22/06: Town officials hopeful that Romney's promise of more local aid will help town's financial situation.

Wayland Town Crier 1/19/06: Ad Hoc Budget Advisory Committee delivers recommendations. Among them: increasing prices for school lunches, closing the Town Pool, and eliminating 2-4 teaching positions.

1/18/06: Notes from the 1/17 School Committee meeting with proposed adjustments to the 1/9 budget are available here.

Metrowest Daily News 1/15/06: Ad Hoc Budget Committee delivers cost cutting recommendations.

1/13/06: Superintendent Burton has presented his recommended school budget for 06-07. Details on the 1/9 School Committee meeting available here. Materials from the meeting:

Wayland Town Crier 1/5/06: Familiar issues for new year. Key issues for the start of 2006 will be the budget, addressing concerns in the high school accreditation, and the town center project.

12/19/05: The Selectmen and School Committee held a joint meeting on December 19 to discuss, among other items, communication with town residents and space issues at the High School.

Boston Globe 12/18/05: Property taxes have been growing across Massachusetts. Click here for a ranking of household property tax bills across Massachusetts (Wayland's 2006 number is not available yet, but can be compared to the 2005 figures which are also presented). For statewide information on property tax growth, click here.

Metrowest Daily News 12/18/05: Board of Selectmen votes to keep tax rate the same for residential and commercial properties. The Finance Committee recommended a split rate, while the Board of Assessors recommended maintaining equal tax rates. The Board ultimately decided that, given the town's small commercial base, it was better to keep the business-friendlier rate.

The Finance Committee ran an informational session regarding the town budget. Details on the presentation are available here, and the slides presented at the meeting are available here. Wayland is clearly not alone in its budget woes, as most municipalities are grappling with rising costs and a growing reliance on property taxes. Metrowest Daily News (12/18/05) coverage is also available: The Finance Committee presented the budget situation in an information session.

Wayland FY07 Ad Hoc Budget Advisory Committee Agendas and Minutes. Review the agendas, minutes and postings of the committee assigned to identify cost-cutting measures.

Boston Globe 12/11/05: Boston Globe article on funding and school cuts. An override would be necessary to avoid the drastic cuts described by the School Committee.

Recent School Committee Meetings and Notes

The School Committee's letter to the Finance Committee describing the cuts necessary for an 8% reduction and their impact on the schools.
School Committee meeting notes from:
    January 30, 2006
    January 23, 2006
    January 17,2006
    January 09, 2006
    November 28,2005
    November 21, 2005
School Committee Q&A (in a Town Crier guest column) from recent School Committee meetings.
Selection of Budget Cut Option. At their November 28 meeting, the School Committee discussed their selected plan for budget cuts that would be necessary to meet FinCom cost reduction guidelines. For a full report of this meeting, click here. Town Crier coverage is available here.
School Budget discussions at School Committee Meeting. At their November 21 meeting, the School Committee discussed town finances and the override situation with the Finance Committee and looked at options for meeting the FinCom cost reduction guidelines. For a full report of this meeting, click here.
School Committee Meeting: Monday, November 14. Review of the cuts that would be necessary to meet no override budget guidelines. Cuts involve possible closing of Happy Hollow Elementary School, elimination of all extracurricular activities, elimination of all or half of athletic budget, elimination of all school librarians, implementation of AM/PM kindergarten. Special Education budgets, which cover services which are mandated by law, would not be cut.
    School Committee Meeting Agenda
    Superintendent's Memo on Proposed Cuts
    Details of Proposed Cuts
    Town Crier Coverage of the meeting.

School Budget Meeting, October 17. The first ever fall review of the School Budget took place on October 17. The School Committee explained the budget issues facing the town, and the cause of cost growth.
   School Committee Presentation
   Town Crier Coverage of the October 17 School Budget Meeting
   MetroWest Daily News 10/16/05: School Budget Will be Unveiled

FY07 Budgeting

FinCom's Budget for FY07 and Financial Plan for 2008-2010
Handouts from the March 21 Budget Hearing
FinCom's Budget Forum Presentation
Wayland schools: impact of failed override: cut list
The School Committee's FY07 Budget Book

© 2008 WaylandeNews. All rights reserved. Last updated: Monday July 14, 2008 02:42 PM.
WaylandeNews is a privately funded site, and is not affiliated with the town government of Wayland, Massachusetts
Please be aware that many links on our site will take you from WaylandeNews. We are not responsible for content on other websites.