Advisory Committee rejects partial RIO rollback 0-11, backs FY27 budgets

WELLESLEY -- March 11, 2026, Wellesley Advisory rejects partial RIO rollback 0-11 and endorses FY27 budgets. The Advisory Committee voted unanimously against Article 32, which would have removed the Residential Incentive Overlay from single-residence and several other districts, with Vice Chair Jay Prosnitz recused and new member Gail Sullivan abstaining. Opponents split between members wanting full RIO elimination and members wanting no change, with Chair Madison Riley saying the committee's "difficulty" voting showed the issue needs the elected Planning Board, not a rushed task force process. The committee endorsed a $121,501,445 municipal operations budget 12-0 and a $96,856,075 school budget 9-3, with dissenters citing 19.5 student-facing FTEs cut against no central-office reductions. Article 21's $400,000 comprehensive plan funding passed 8-4 over objections that the town has only an interim Planning Director. Public commenters cited 547 housing units proposed in five months versus 514 built in the prior seven years.