dave.watkins@waylandpost.org
Wayland voters approved a single ballot question at a special town election, with unofficial results showing 328 votes in favor and 297 opposed, a margin of 31 votes. A total of 625 ballots were cast, representing about 6% of the town’s 10,715 registered voters.
Support for the measure was consistent across all four precincts, though margins were narrow. Precinct 1 voted 105–91 in favor, Precinct 2 voted 76–72, Precinct 3 voted 74–72, and Precinct 4 voted 73–62.
The ballot question authorized the town to exempt the remaining debt service for the Department of Public Works facility at 66 River Road from the limits of Proposition 2½. The debt is associated with a bond approved under Article 2 of the November 2013 Special Town Meeting for construction of the DPW building and related infrastructure. The vote determines whether the debt is paid within the tax levy limit or outside it and does not change the total amount of debt owed.
Town officials have stated that the reclassification would not affect fiscal year 2026 tax bills. By shifting approximately $700,000 in annual debt service outside the levy limit, the change is expected to provide additional budget capacity beginning in fiscal year 2027 and could influence future budget and override decisions.
