Finance Committee approves draft Town Meeting warrant report on 7-0 vote

SUDBURY -- March 31, 2025, Sudbury Finance Committee approves draft warrant report and defers stretch energy code vote. The committee voted 7-0 on March 31 to approve its draft FY26 warrant report, which projects an average residential tax-bill increase of $515, or 3.14 percent, and lists $2,920,720 of $7,271,136 in certified free cash being directed to capital articles. Energy and Sustainability Committee Chair Rami Alwan told members the specialized stretch code (Article 27) would add roughly $20,000 to a new home's cost but unlock access to a state grant pool he pegged at around $500 million. Co-Chair Michael Joachim said the article "may just be a policy decision that costs extra money," and members agreed to invite Building Inspector Andrew Lewis to their April 14 meeting before taking a position. Finance Director Victor Garofalo confirmed total debt service is about 1.9 percent of general fund revenues, well below the town's 10 percent policy ceiling.