At the Town of Kingston's deliberative session, Moderator Ellen Faulkner read Article 9, the operating budget article that would set the town's operating appropriation at $9,961,369 and estimated a town portion tax impact of $5.90 per $1,000 of assessed value (the default budget tax impact was read as $5.11 per $1,000).

The operating budget discussion focused on several drivers of the increase: ongoing PFAS remediation and monitoring costs, salary adjustments, and a multi-year master plan. Paula Mahoney, Kingston’s finance and human resources director, and budget committee members outlined both the ongoing and one‑time costs that feed the proposed total.

The nut graf: The choices made in deliberative session will determine what residents see on the March ballot and shape the town's tax rate and services for the next year. Voters at the March 11 election will decide the final outcome.

Most of the meeting’s time on Article 9 was devoted to line‑item questions and several amendment motions. Town officials explained that an ongoing PFAS remediation line in the operating budget would total about $334,000 and that the budget includes $83,500 intended for salary adjustments. The planning department’s request for a master plan was explained as a roughly $60,000 project split across two years; $30,000 was placed in this year's budget.

Finance director Paula Mahoney said Kingston’s projected revenue is down, in part because a one‑time grant used previously will not repeat and because the state highway block grant the town receives is expected to fall: “last year we had $260,000 for highway block grants and this year the state guidance is $185,000,” she said, explaining part of the gap that pushes up the tax rate even though the operating budget increase is smaller.

Residents and committee members debated a trio of notable amendment motions.

- A motion by budget committee member Pam Brown to amend Article 9 upward by $10,000 to fund a contracted professional solid‑waste and recycling consultant (to study feasibility of a permanent recycling center) prompted extended public comment from residents and members of Kingston’s Solid Waste and Recycling Committee. Brown said, “The purpose of the amendment is to add $10,000 to our contracted services… to hire a professional solid waste and recycling consultant to analyze the feasibility of maintaining a permanent recycling center in Kingston,” and argued a consultant is needed because of the complexity and scale of possible changes to curbside or center collection.

Solid Waste and Recycling Committee chair Phil Coombs testified that the committee was not yet ready to spend consultant funds and urged more time: “I don't think we're at a point yet where this money would be properly used,” he said. The amendment was decided by secret ballot and failed: yeas 16, nays 51.

- A motion by resident Mary Seer to reduce the operating budget by $200,000 (a 2% reduction) so voters would have an austerity option on the ballot drew a wide range of comment. Supporters said households are strained by inflation; opponents said the committees and select board had already scrutinized the budget and that removing money without identified cuts would hamper town operations. The reduction motion was decided by secret ballot and failed: yeas 31, nays 40.

- A later motion to cut $30,000 from planning and zoning (to move the master plan to a warrant article next year) was also put to secret ballot and failed: yeas 28, nays 43.

Throughout the discussion, participants repeatedly returned to the same budget tradeoffs: protecting infrastructure and public safety versus limiting near‑term tax pressure. For example, several speakers urged not to delay investments that affect long‑term costs such as permitting and water protection; others said voters should be given the option to reject additional staffing or programs at the polls.

After the amendment votes, the moderator called the question to move Article 9 forward to the ballot as proposed. The session closed Article 9 for the deliberative phase and advanced the article, with the final decision reserved for the town election.

Votes at a glance (deliberative‑session actions and results)

- Article 9 — Operating budget, $9,961,369 (default $9,993,358.98): Multiple amendment votes at the session; final motion to place Article 9 on the March ballot carried (voice vote). Notable amendment outcomes: $10,000 recycling consultant amendment — failed (yeas 16, nays 51; secret ballot); $200,000 reduction motion — failed (yeas 31, nays 40; secret ballot); $30,000 planning cut — failed (yeas 28, nays 43; secret ballot).

- Article 10 — Authorization for 1.5% early‑payment deduction for property taxes: moved forward as presented (voice vote).

- Article 11 — Establish $50,000 contingency fund (RSA references read at the session): moved forward as presented (voice vote). (Select board and budget committee recommended; the session included discussion about statutory reporting requirements for contingency funds.)

- Article 12 — Create 2 full‑time firefighter/paramedic positions; $149,808.88 for nine months (estimated town impact ~ $11,000): moved forward as presented (voice vote). Fire Chief Pellerin told the meeting the town faces termination of regional ALS coverage and said local paramedic capacity is a public‑safety priority.

- Article 13 — Create one full‑time land‑use administrative position (convert part‑time planning/zoning assistants): moved forward as amended (committee amendment inserting “administrative assistant” for clarity; voice vote).

- Article 14 — Add $50,000 to the fire apparatus replacement capital reserve fund: moved forward as presented (voice vote).

- Article 15 — Withdraw $735,000 from the fire apparatus replacement CRF to purchase a new tanker: moved forward as presented (voice vote). Fire Chief Pellerin explained long lead times and rising apparatus cost.

- Article 16 — Add $75,000 to highway equipment capital reserve fund: moved forward as presented (voice vote).

- Article 17 — Create one part‑time building department permitting technician ($26,869 for nine months): moved forward as presented (voice vote).

- Article 18 — Accept and appropriate up to $1,400,000 for the Kingston Main Street bridge project (non‑lapsing grant appropriation; no tax impact): moved forward as presented (voice vote).

- Article 19 — Create one full‑time town administrator; original appropriation request $130,444 (nine months): the meeting saw extended debate. A motion at the session amended the article’s appropriation to $0 (effectively placing a zero‑dollar advisory version on the ballot so voters could decide the position without committing town funds). The amendment to set the appropriation to $0 carried by voice count reported as yeas 27, nays 20. The resulting (amended) Article 19 ($0 appropriation) was placed on the ballot.

- Article 20 — Establish a Recycling Center revolving fund (RSA 31:95‑h style revolving fund for recycling event revenues): moved forward as presented (voice vote). Town officials clarified the fund would capture user fees from special recycling events so proceeds can be used for collection‑center expenses instead of going to the general fund.

- Article 21 — Petition to restore full tax exemption to Kingston Veterans Club (petitioned warrant article): moved forward to the ballot (voice vote). Town counsel and select board discussed statutory limitations on how exemptions are granted and noted the assessor/select board role.

- Article 22 — Petition to restore full tax exemption to Gideon Hall Masonic Association (past informal arrangements discussed): moved forward to the ballot (voice vote); select board described prior payment‑in‑lieu arrangements and said a reinstated arrangement going forward was under consideration.

- Article 23 — Petition restricting the select board from joining a Community Power joint‑powers agreement without voter approval: moved forward to the ballot (voice vote). The meeting included extended discussion and legal input; town counsel summarized that community‑power arrangements are governed by RSA Chapter 53‑E and that a final community‑aggregation plan is presented to voters before supply contracts are executed.

Ending: Several speakers urged voters to review warrant language and to attend Candidates Night and the March 11 town election. Moderator Ellen Faulkner reminded residents that the town election is scheduled Tuesday, March 11, at the Swayze Gym and that deliberative‑session outcomes move the articles to that ballot for a final vote.