Wesley council adopts finance-board operating recommendation, approves selected school and town capital items

WESLEY — The Wesley Town Council on April 16 approved the finance-board recommended operating appropriation for fiscal 2027 and voted to fund a pared-down set of capital projects for the school and town, after public testimony from school leaders and nonprofit executives and heated discussion over use of the school's fund balance.

The council voted to adopt the finance-board's operating recommendation for the school appropriation and then separately approved $894,452 in school capital items the board left in its budget (notably HVAC upgrades, parking-lot paving and a vehicle-replacement plan). Councilors also approved a package of town capital projects and added $400,000 to the Bradford Recreation Complex line, a change proponents said would let the town advance phase 2 work.

Why it matters: The decisions balance two pressures: preserving a relatively stable mill rate this year and addressing deferred capital needs (a middle-school roof and other projects the superintendent called critical). Council supporters said the finance-board proposal keeps taxes nearly level while funding targeted capital needs; opponents warned that cutting capital now merely defers larger costs later.

The votes and motions: The council first debated an amendment to the finance-board operating figure; after discussion and roll-call-style polling the body approved the finance-board operating recommendation. Separately the council passed the school-capital list (total about $894,452) and then approved the town capital package with the Bradford addition. A subsequent motion created a restricted line for a senior-housing study ($60,000) and adjusted the real-estate transfer tax estimate to offset that study; the council later authorized hiring an assistant grants-administrator under the higher salary scenario (vote reported 4-2).

What the superintendent and finance staff said: Mark Gassow, superintendent of schools, told the council his presentation and the school committee's budget had already been pared back before reaching the manager's office: "We made reductions that will result in larger class sizes, curtail supports to students, and require cuts to our transportation department," he said, adding that the district had transferred $400,000 from fund balance to try to keep the operating ask below roughly 2 percent.

Finance staff and a school finance official walked the council through fund-balance accounting and committed amounts. A staff speaker explained that the June 30, 2025 fund-balance figure of $7,478,239 included assigned and committed funds (such as $1,869,317 for the school building project) and that the unencumbered available total as of April 16 was about $5,795,691.

Public testimony and nonprofit requests: Several residents and agency leaders urged continued town support for community services. Allison Croke, CEO of Wind River Health Services, thanked the council for a roughly $13,000 subsidy in the proposed budget and said Wind River serves 11,800 unique patients countywide, with 30 percent residing in Westerly: "We're right in your backyard," she said, noting the clinic's federal gold-quality award. Ruth, executive director of the Franco Lin (Olin) Center, described the center's need for a part-time nurse and vocational supports that town funding helps sustain.

Council frames and split views: Some councilors argued for level funding the operating budget and shifting more dollars to capital this year to keep long-term costs down; others sided with the finance board's approach, saying operating pressures (insurance, staffing and special-education needs) justify a modest operating increase and that capital reimbursement timing and bonding considerations complicate relying on state reimbursement.

Next steps: The council scheduled follow-up meetings (a Monday workshop and a Wednesday public hearing) to finalize remaining items. The approved operating appropriation and capital votes set the town's next steps: the council will transmit final numbers and continue discussions about capital-phasing decisions and any final adjustments to revenues.

Actions and outcomes (from the meeting): - Adopted finance-board recommended school operating appropriation (finance-board figure adopted by council motion; motion carried). - Approved school capital package left by finance board, total approximately $894,452 (HVAC upgrades, parking-lot paving, vehicle replacement). - Approved finance-board town capital package with an added $400,000 for Bradford Recreation Complex. - Added a restricted senior-housing study line ($60,000) and adjusted real-estate transfer tax revenue estimate to offset it. - Approved assistant grants-administrator scenario 2 (higher salary); motion reported to pass 4-2.

Speakers quoted or cited: Mark Gassow, superintendent of schools; Allison Croke, CEO, Wind River Health Services; Ruth, executive director, Franco Lin (Olin) Center; multiple councilors. The council will reconvene further budget sessions before finalizing the FY2027 budget.