Long Range Financial Planning Committee - 06/08/26

The Westwood Long Range Financial Planning Committee held a remote meeting on June 8, 2026, focusing on advancing a strategic capital improvement plan for town and school facilities. The committee introduced Granite City Partners, a real estate advisory and engineering firm selected to support the development of a multi-decade capital plan addressing building needs, project timing, and community engagement. Discussions emphasized the importance of transparent, long-term financial planning amid constrained budgets and declining state aid, with projected capital needs ranging from $170 million to $300 million. The committee and Granite City Partners outlined a phased approach including analysis, public forums, and drafting the plan by year-end, with community engagement sessions planned for summer and fall 2026. The meeting also covered strategies for effective outreach to ensure broad resident participation, the integration of past project successes into the planning process, and the challenges of balancing commercial and residential tax bases to support funding. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for early July to review initial work products and finalize engagement plans.