Finance Committee defers override vote, schedules March 13 decisions

SUDBURY — March 6, 2023 — Sudbury Finance Committee signals likely but reluctant support for $745,460 school override. Co-Chair Michael Ferrari led a two-hour walk-through of the FY24 warrant, framing the Sudbury Public Schools override as the meeting's central question and laying out four areas of concern, including the district's use of circuit-breaker reserves and more than six positions still funded by non-recurring money. Member Henry Sorett questioned whether reallocation could avoid an override entirely, citing advice that overrides win by placing "the programs that people are concerned about" at risk. Member Eric Poch said he would back the override "with trepidation," warning the town continues to "spend every single nickel and dime of new money that we get every year." SPS would total roughly $43.9 million with the override versus $43.2 million without; SPS and LS together account for 71 percent of the town's operating budget. Finance Director Dennis confirmed the stabilization transfers are proposed within the levy, while unpaid bills and snow-and-ice — currently carrying a roughly $100,000 deficit — would draw from free cash. The committee approved Jan. 23 minutes as amended and deferred substantive votes to March 13.