Sudbury Finance Committee recommends $121.6M operating budget 6-1

SUDBURY -- March 11, 2024, Sudbury Finance Committee recommends $121.6 million operating budget over single dissent. The committee voted 6-1 on March 11 to back the FY25 operating budget, with member Henry P. Sorett opposed; Sorett said "the cost of town government is too great" and called for pruning. Planning Director Adam Burney told the committee Sudbury risks losing roughly $8 million to $10 million in state grants, including the $8.3 million Bruce Freeman Rail Trail TIP segment, if it fails to adopt MBTA Communities zoning. Town Manager Andy Sheehan ruled out a constitutional challenge: "No serious consideration of a constitutional challenge has been entertained." Members also unanimously recommended $2.35 million in-levy debt for the Atkinson Pool renovation, a $201,507 stabilization deposit to reach the 5 percent policy target on a $5.57 million balance, and a $250,000 capital stabilization contribution. Votes on the firearms article and the two MBTA zoning bylaws were deferred pending a March 28 public information session.