Whitman Finance Committee Chair Steps Down, Reorganization Set for October 28

WHITMAN — October 7, 2025 — Whitman's Finance Committee chair announced she is stepping down from leadership at the panel's October 7 meeting, with a reorganization session to elect a new chair and vice chair set for October 28 and the first FY27 budget presentation night slated for November 18. The seven-member quorum — with Jason participating by phone and members Chuck and Al absent — approved minutes from June 11, July 1, and July 8 by roll-call votes, and reshuffled liaison assignments for the upcoming budget cycle, with Kevin taking the Planning Board, a new member taking the Conservation Commission, and Ann covering the Treasurer-Collector. Dawn Byers warned the committee that Whitman has been overcharged by roughly $200,000 annually on regional school busing costs under a dual-calculation method she says violates the 1992 regional agreement, telling members "they're in breach of the contract" after a same-day DESE call with officials Jay Sullivan and Christine Lynch confirmed the concern. The outgoing chair reported the middle school building project is approximately $15 million under its original budget but flagged a cash-flow risk after the project spent $6 million in a single month against a $4 million monthly plan, and confirmed a special town meeting — tied to the settled fire department union contract — is expected in late November or early December.