At the Town’s Deliberative Session on Saturday, Feb. 8, there was a motion for an amendment made by budget committee Vice Chair Joseph Gagon which would’ve reduced the proposed operating budget by $500,000.
Going into the Deliberative Session the proposed warrant article stated: Shall the Town raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $50,111,482. Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $49,654,290 which is the amount of the appropriations contained in the operating budget authorized for the previous fiscal year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Town or by law; or the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only.
If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $26,213,784 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $3.998 in FY 26 based on projected assessed values.
Budget Committee Vice Chair Gagnon proposed the amendment calling for a $500,000 decrease to the proposed budget. “I move to amend this warrant article to $50,111,482, to $49,611,482,”. Gagnon explained that during the budget season, the Budget Committee was tasked with looking at potential cuts to the proposed budget and thought they could make the proposed budget even leaner. “I think we can keep it leaner,” Gagnon said, noting that the Town Council had already reduced about $250,000 from the original proposed budget.
Budget Committee member David Plaza said they have talked about the budget for months, and he was concerned about the hours of service and resources from different departments that would be impacted by the proposed cut to the overall budget. “I’m totally against this amendment change,” Plaza said.
Gagnon said one of the largest areas that he thinks they can make cuts to is to the over time lines.
Resident Dan Bouchard said he attended the budget hearings held throughout the year, and said the Budget Committee has done a good job at making suggestions along with the Town Council. He explained that he was not in support of reducing the proposed budget. “I don’t agree with this whatsoever,” Bouchard said. Bouchard also argued that if someone didn’t agree with the proposed budget they should’ve voted no on the recommendation.
Resident Jonathan Esposito said he urged the voters in attendance to approve the amendment saying he thinks that voters should have the chance to vote on a budget below the Default Budget. “I think this a great amendment,” he said, Esposito went on to say, that he thinks they can find the cuts outside of public safety over time and that we need to stop with the fear tactics. It was noted that the amendment didn’t call for the cuts to be made from any particular line item in the budget and that the budget is a bottom-line budget meaning the cuts can come from anywhere in the budget.
One question raised by resident and State Rep Kristine Perez was what happens if the Default Budget passes.
Finance Director Justin Campo said he has been talking to the fire chief about what may happen should that occur. He also noted during the meeting that most departments have proposed budgets that are under default.
The amendment did not pass during the Deliberative Session meaning the original warrant article will be placed on the ballot as written.