Plaistow outlines $13.3 million operating budget; committee hears ambulance revenue options and a proposed 30-year solar lease at closed landfill

The Plaistow Budget Committee held a public hearing on the town’s proposed 2025 operating budget, which totals $13,306,304 — a roughly 5% increase over the prior year — and on a slate of warrant articles that fund capital reserves, contingency, and other special appropriations. Committee members also discussed how ambulance collections would be recorded if the town takes over ambulance services.

During the hearing, staff read major departmental totals. Highlights included the police budget, which the presentation showed rising about 10% primarily because of collective bargaining contract costs; the fire department up about 4%; the library budget up about 4%; and the town-wide “other general government” and finance office increases tied partly to legal and staffing costs. The water enterprise budget was listed at $510,516…