Brentwood Planning Board proposes $119,252 2026 budget, adds grants line and modest wage adjustments

The Brentwood Planning Board reviewed its draft 2026 budget and voted to adopt a revised proposed total of $119,252, including a new grants line to track pass-through grant activity, modest wage increases for staff, and a reallocation that reduced the engineering line to keep the board’s overall request at or below a 4% increase.

Mark Kennedy, who presented the budget documents, explained the wage figures and why the apparent 6.6% figure reflected multiple pay-rate changes during the prior year rather than a single across-the-board raise. The board also discussed overtime accounting: staff said historical tracking of overtime had not been consistent, and the packet included an estimate that allowed the board to reduce the overtime line by roughly $1,000 compared with last year’s calculation.

Members debated whether to raise the engineering and surveying budget—several said engineering work can be unpredictable and that the town has faced unplanned bills from consultants. The board discussed a $2,700 bill from TEC for work on Tanya Lane that highlighted the problem: with a low engineering line, one unexpected invoice can push an account negative.

A separate line for dues to the Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC) drew comment. Supporters said RPC membership helps the town access federal transportation planning, grant eligibility (including safety-action plans tied to grant programs), GIS support and regional advocacy; others noted RPC funding was under strain and membership benefits should be justified. The board agreed to keep the RPC dues line in the budget.

Members also discussed the town planner’s line and a proposed 2.5% increase for Glenn Greenwood; several members argued for a larger, incremental increase to maintain continuity and avoid a large adjustment later. The board approved an amended budget that included a master-plan line, the new grants line (a pass-through placeholder), adjusted engineering and overtime lines and the planner wage update.

At the end of the discussion the board voted by roll call to adopt the proposed 2026 budget total of $119,252 with the grant line included.

Key budget figures discussed: proposed total $119,252; prior draft showed a 4.27% increase but board trimmed roughly $350 from engineering and adjusted overtime to aim for 4.0% or lower; overtime line estimates discussed ranged from about $1,125 to $2,000 depending on calculation method. The board instructed staff to monitor year-to-date actuals and provide a six-month update to reduce carryover uncertainty.

Quotes from the meeting: Mark Kennedy summarized the wage calculation approach and the reason the packet showed a 6.6% aggregate figure, saying the figure “is not a 6.6% wage increase per se” because multiple rates applied across the prior year. Several board members urged that the town keep a modest increase to avoid a large jump later and to plan for succession in the planner role.