Sudbury FinCom sets Feb. 7 hearing on likely SPS override request

SUDBURY — January 9, 2023 — Sudbury Finance Committee braces for likely school override as budget hearings approach. At a thinly attended Jan. 9 meeting chaired by Michael Ferrari, SPS liaison Susan told colleagues the district's fiscal 2024 ask totals $44,426,163 — including $464,000 in tier-one initiatives for support specialists, mental health and early childhood education — and runs about $750,000 above town guidance even after applying $300,000 in circuit breaker funds and $150,000 in Medicaid reimbursements. "That's an override," she said. Ferrari said one-time funds remain an alternative but "theoretically just pushes the problem forward a year." Henry P. Sorett pressed the district to pursue solar agreements with private developers as an offset. The committee tentatively set Feb. 7 for the SPS hearing, Feb. 6 for Lincoln-Sudbury, Feb. 13 for the joint capital meeting and Feb. 27 for the town. Members voted 5-0 to approve December minutes.