Council refers proposed FY26 capital budget to finance committee after mayor’s presentation

WOBURN, Mass. — The Woburn City Council on June 3 voted to refer the proposed fiscal year 2026 capital budget to the committee on finance after a presentation by Mayor Michael P. Concannon.

Mayor Michael P. Concannon told the council the proposed capital budget “is broken down by department, by item, by amount” and said staff and department heads would attend the finance committee meeting to answer questions. “What I think we'll likely do is, send this to finance. And on Thursday night at your finance committee meeting, we'll bring in most, if not all of these department heads, heads, to answer any particular questions you have about the items indicated,” he said.

The referral matters because the capital budget contains larger one-time and periodic purchases that require council appropriation and committee review. Councilors asked for details on school technology spending, facility repairs and park resurfacing during the presentation.

Councilor Campbell asked why the school’s purchase of a new math curriculum and technology appeared in the capital budget: “Why would curriculum be in a capital budget?” Concannon replied that the purchase is a periodic, bulk software and device procurement rather than an annual operating expense, saying, “It is a significant purchase, a periodic purchase. It's not an annual operating expense.” Several councilors said they want school officials to appear before the finance committee to explain specifics, including the districtwide maintenance line item of $300,000 and the schools’ capital line (discussed by councilors as about $875,000 this year compared with roughly $850,000 last year).

Councilors also raised immediate facilities concerns. Councilor Toel asked about leaking roofs at the Shamrock and Linscott schools; Concannon said Shamrock’s roof is likely to be part of a packaged bond and that the city has applied for a grant to offset part of the cost, noting the grant decision is pending. Concannon said the district is pursuing multiple “buckets” of capital work — pay-as-you-go, larger bondable projects, and major new construction — and that the Shamrock roof is not necessarily paused but that grant funding could alter timing or financing.

Following the presentation, President Dillon moved that the matter be referred to the committee on finance. The motion carried on a voice vote: “All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? That passes.”

The council’s referral will bring department heads before the finance committee for detailed line‑item review and further clarification of school technology costs, maintenance projects and roofing plans; the committee meeting was scheduled for the following Thursday.