Town Manager Jim presented preliminary budget guidance to the Wolfeborough Budget Committee on July 21, 2025, saying the general fund faces an estimated 8.3% increase for 2026, or roughly $1.58 million, driven primarily by wage and personnel costs and an anticipated rise in ambulance contract costs.

Why it matters: The committee will begin formal review this fall. The projected increases drive the town’s planning for warrant articles, staffing and service contracts and affect how the default budget will be framed if voters do not approve warrant articles.

Jim summarized major drivers during the meeting: “Right now, the general fund alone, we’re looking at an 8.3% increase, which is a total of $1,584,000,” he said. He attributed much of the increase to two categories: wages/benefits and the fire/EMS changes the town approved last year. Jim told the committee the 100‑series (wages) increase is estimated at about $671,811 (roughly 10.2%), and the 200‑series (benefits, including health insurance) carries a placeholder increase driven by health‑care assumptions. Jim identified two specific cost items the committee should expect:

- Collective bargaining and wage adjustments: The town has two recently approved collective bargaining agreements included in the numbers; those agreements add about $176,000 to wages for 2026. Town staff also expect supervisory and non‑union adjustments when the budget is prepared.
- Fire department ambulance staffing and contract costs: The town hired four positions in the fire department to support ambulance service. Those positions are included in the projected $326,000 increase tied to the new staffing. Separately, the ambulance contract (Stewart’s) is estimated at about $808,000 for 2026 — a rise from the prior budgeted $270,000 — but staff said that estimate could change if the town’s own ambulance backup comes on line.

On the ambulance contract specifically, Jim said the town’s goal is to have department personnel operational to provide backup ambulance service by Jan. 1, 2026, and that doing so could reduce the contract cost paid to the private vendor. He told the committee the assistant chief of EMS would begin in August and that the department will evaluate timing and licensing requirements before any contractual savings can be confirmed.

Other budget drivers Jim highlighted included:
- Health insurance: a placeholder (the final figure depends on insurer rates expected in November).
- Solid waste hauling: bids are outstanding and could increase the 300 series.
- Propane for the Public Safety Building: an estimated $45,000 increase is included.
- Debt service: the 900 series (bond/debt service) is projected to fall by about $232,000 in 2026.

Jim also summarized timing: department budgets are due the last week of August; departments and staff will review them in September; select‑board review is planned for October; and the budget committee’s review begins in November.

Committee members pressed staff for clarifications. One member asked whether the full $808,000 ambulance estimate could be reduced if the town’s new ambulance backup becomes operational; Jim said that is possible but would depend on the EMS leadership’s work after August 4 and on licensing and operational readiness. Finance staff (Sam) also noted that some multi‑department “common” costs (telephone, insurance) have been consolidated into centralized lines in recent years, which affects how five‑year expenditure trends appear and may require supplemental spreadsheets to show historical details by department.

What’s next: Town staff will finalize department submissions in August and circulate the formal budget workbooks. The committee will receive detailed worksheets in September and begin public presentations of department budgets in October and November, ahead of the public hearing and final recommendations.