Kingston deliberative session centers on $9.96 million operating budget; recycling study and budget cuts fail

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…