Meetings Ahead
Most meetings in Wellfleet are held online and in person. Go to www.wellfleet-ma.gov/calendar and click on the meeting you want to watch, then follow the instructions on the agenda.
Thursday, Dec. 5
- Nauset Regional School Committee, 6 p.m. Lower Cape TV, Orleans or online
Monday, Dec. 9
- Select board, with executive session, 5 p.m., Adult Community Center and online
Tuesday, Dec. 10
- Elementary School Committee, 5 p.m., online only
Wednesday, Dec. 11
- Cultural Council, 4 p.m., Town Hall and online
- Historical Commission, 5 p.m., online only
- Finance Committee, 7 p.m., online only
Conversation Starter
Budget Burnout
The select board discussed the town’s fiscal 2026 budget at its Nov. 25 meeting. Member Ryan Curley listed the capital expenditure priorities, including stabilizing the marina’s finances, permitting and planning wastewater upgrades, upgrading the town’s IT system, improving roads and sidewalks, and implementing the Maurice’s Campground housing project.
Under budget goals, Curley listed hiring a wastewater superintendent, “building out” Wellfleet’s administration, and reevaluating the transfer station’s financial model, among others.
Also among the goals was the need to remain under the 2.5-percent limit on increasing the tax levy imposed by the 1980 law known as Proposition 2½. “I think right now the voters are a little burnt out” when it comes to Prop 2½ overrides, Curley said.
He also said doing that could be difficult, since it looks as if funds may be limited in the fiscal year ahead. The board is still awaiting budget statements from Wellfleet Elementary and Nauset Regional Schools.
Board member Barbara Carboni agreed. “I think it sets the right tone, trying to remain under the levy limit,” she said. “We’ll see, depending on how the school budget comes in, if we need to make some difficult choices.”
Town Administrator Tom Guerino encouraged the board to begin considering what programs, offerings, or personnel they would be willing to cut if the school budgets end up being particularly high or free cash is lower than expected. —William von Herff
