State Budget Funds Sudbury Sustainability Director Position

SUDBURY, MA — Sudbury may soon become the latest town in Massachusetts to hire a director overseeing the local fight against climate change.

The proposed fiscal 2023 state budget released this week contains a $100,000 earmark to fund a Sudbury sustainability director position for one year.

The sustainability director position was the subject of a spring Town Meeting vote in Sudbury. Town Meeting approved an article urging the town manager to hire a sustainability director to oversee efforts to reduce the town's carbon footprint and defend against the wider impacts of climate change on the town.

"The position would work with staff and boards across town government to promote appropriate consideration of sustainability and climate change issues, and engage with residents and businesses to ensure they realize the financial and other benefits of sustainable choices," a summary of the article said. "Sustainability Directors in peer towns have often had a substantial net positive impact on town finances, including through improved capacity to take advantage of relevant state and federal funding, and by implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects."

The May Town Meeting article asked the town to spend $130,000 per year on the sustainability director using free cash. The article also declared climate change an emergency, and convened a town summit on climate change — that event was held on Thursday and featured state and local elected officials.

The state House and Senate have passed the $52.7 billion fiscal 2023 state budget, but it is still awaiting Gov. Charlie Baker's signature. Baker has until July 31 to sign or veto the budget.