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Templeton select board tweaks warrant and taps revenues, stabilization to close $55,000 free‑cash gap
Summary
Select board members adjusted revenue and stabilization allocations to eliminate a $55,178 free‑cash shortfall on the annual town meeting warrant, preserving TCTV funding and the tanker lease payment while keeping select‑board stipends subject to town‑meeting confirmation.
The Town of Templeton Select Board on an April 2025 out‑of‑cycle meeting revised revenue and free‑cash allocations to close a $55,178 gap in the draft annual town meeting warrant and preserve funding for TCTV and a scheduled tanker lease payment.
Town Administrator Holly walked the board through the updated budget she said reflected board directions from the March meeting, including personnel line changes, estimated interim town‑administrator pay and an administrative assistant wage set at $18.50. She told the board that some stipends were reduced in the draft because there was “no money in the budget.”
Board members and staff then reviewed a longer list of warrant uses drawn from free cash: a snow & ice deficit (the packet listed $186,181), a forensic audit, a match for a Berry Road engineering grant, and supplemental requests including a proposed TCTV supplemental. TCTV director Steve told the board that removing the TCTV supplemental would “devastate” the department and likely require eliminating positions.
To close the gap, board members agreed on two offsetting moves: (1) move a $10,000 Graceland grant match from free cash to the infrastructure stabilization account, and (2) raise the motor‑vehicle excise revenue estimate by about $46,000 (the board recorded a motor‑vehicle excise figure moved toward $1.311 million in discussion). The combination reduced free‑cash uses so the warrant balanced, leaving a small unassigned balance (about $922 in the board's calculation).
The board discussed the tanker lease payment that staff said had been covered in earlier budgets and that defaulting on the lease could affect the town's ISO/insurance rating; speakers warned homeowners insurance costs could rise if the tanker credit were lost. The tanker second‑year payment referenced in discussion was about $97,000; a board member observed the department returned $92,700 underspent last year and suggested the fire department budget could contribute.
Select board members also debated restoring select‑board stipends to the town‑meeting level ($37.50 was discussed). Several members said they had signed away their stipends individually but kept the funding lines in place to preserve options if a future board member wanted the stipend. The board agreed the stipend level would remain on the warrant so town meeting could decide.
The select board approved the updated municipal budget (motion passed, recorded yes votes from Ms. Griffiths, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Curry and Chair Timothy Toth) and approved the annual town meeting warrant as amended. Staff will finalize the warrant text and post the updated packet online for advisory committee review. The board asked staff to send the revised packet to the advisory committee and to candidates for the forthcoming election.
Ending: The board scheduled procedural follow‑up in late April/May to finalize the updated warrant and to return with any required clarifications before the spring town meeting.
