Select Board approves draft warning for 2025–26 municipal budget; debates plain-language changes

The Town of Buckfield Select Board voted to approve the draft warrant for the 2025–26 municipal budget and debated changes to wording and formatting intended to make the budget summary clearer for voters.

Town Manager Cameron reviewed the draft and noted changes made after earlier discussions, including a $5,000 wage adjustment tied to a paid family medical leave item. Select board members asked for clearer wording in the explanatory lines that show how the proposed budget, proposed revenue and the total to be raised through taxation relate to one another. Several members proposed adding parenthetical text after the word "revenue" (for example, "incoming funds") and presenting the three figures as a simple math equation — Proposed budget minus proposed revenue equals total to be raised through taxation — to reduce confusion among voters.

Board members also discussed consistency across sections: if the public safety budget explains that revenue offsets costs, similar clarifying language could appear under general government, library and solid waste sections. The manager agreed to update the layout and formatting — including centering and enlarging the line noting that approval of local/state revenues reduces the amount to be taxed — and to include three specific revenue lines (general government, public safety, solid waste) for clarity.

A motion to approve the draft warning, with the minutes of the meeting to be added, was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote. The final warrant approval will occur after any edits identified by the board are incorporated and the warrant is posted for public hearings.