Tamworth select board backs 2025 budget, advances most warrant articles; split on library solar and EV chargers

The Tamworth Select Board on the evening of the 2025 budget hearing voted to recommend the proposed 2025 operating budget and offered recommendations on the town's slate of warrant articles, approving most and recording split votes on several contested items.

The hearing included an overview of the budget and revenues, discussion of a list of warrant articles (numbered articles 1–33 on the warrant), and public comment. Town staff said health insurance costs rose 9.9% and PrimeX liability and workers' compensation costs rose about 12%; the draft includes a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for employees. Staff and the board said the town expects to use a portion of the unassigned fund balance and various capital reserves and grants to pay for planned capital investments (bridges, fire and rescue vehicles, radios and highway equipment) while noting the amount to be raised by taxation would be lower than 2024 under the current plan.

Why it matters

The board's recommendations shape what voters will see at the town meeting and signal how the town plans to spend unassigned reserves and grant funds. Several articles in the warrant would spend substantial sums from the unassigned fund balance or create/modify expendable trust funds that affect future budgets and the tax rate.

Key budget and warrant decisions

- The select board recommended the overall 2025 budget as presented (roll call recorded as 4 yes, 0 no). The board then proceeded through the warrant articles, recommending most articles after staff presentations and public questions.

- Several capital and reserve articles were recommended by the board, including: article 2 (establish a buildings, equipment and infrastructure expendable trust fund; $164,190 from unassigned fund balance; contingent on article 3), article 6 (add $152,000 to the fire truck capital reserve fund from the unassigned fund balance), article 10 (one‑ton highway vehicle with plow, $65,000 from unassigned), and article 11 (Depot Road bridge repairs, $350,000 total with $268,000 from the bridge capital reserve fund and $82,000 from unassigned fund balance). The board recommended each of those articles by recorded roll calls noted in the hearing.

- The board recommended article 7, authorizing the fire‑rescue department to participate in a regional grant to replace portable radios. The total project amount read into the record was $506,594.40, with most of the cost expected to come from an Assistance to Firefighters Grant and partner contributions; the portion noted as Tamworth’s local share was $9,942.13 and the article is null and void if the grant is not received.

- The board recommended article 8, to establish an expendable trust to pay a half‑year salary and benefits for a full‑time police officer ($64,714 to come from the unassigned fund balance) designed to preserve budget flexibility if positions remain unfilled.

- The board recommended article 18, a special warrant to install a rooftop solar energy system at the Cook Memorial Library for $43,782 to come from the unassigned fund balance. That article passed the board's recommendation by a split roll call (3 yes, 1 no); one select board member said they would vote no because the state reimbursement was not guaranteed.

- The board was split on article 20, a proposal to install four public electric vehicle (EV) chargers in the town parking lot (total $78,000, with $15,600 from a local foundation and $62,400 expected from an NHDOT grant). The select board recorded 1 yes and 3 no on the recommendation. During discussion board members and members of the public raised questions about enforcement (EV‑only parking), how payment would be collected, whether the four parking spaces were too valuable to dedicate to EV charging, liability and fire‑response concerns for lithium‑battery incidents, and whether locations outside the village had been considered. Staff and proponents said the grant requires a minimum of four spaces and that payment would be made by card at the chargers and remitted to the town.

- The board recommended multiple petition articles funding local nonprofits and service providers in various amounts (examples included: $38,000 for Ossipee Concerned Citizens Inc. Meals on Wheels and congregate meals; $75,000 requested for the Tamworth Community Nurse Association; smaller appropriations recommended for Tri‑County Community Action Program, Bear Camp Center and Tamworth Preschool). The board recorded votes separately for each petition article; several recommendations recorded a 3–1 vote.

Discussion highlights and concerns

- Use of unassigned fund balance: Resident John Wheeler pressed the board about transparency in using unassigned fund balance to pay for warrant items rather than showing the offsets at tax‑rate setting time. Wheeler said it was "much clearer and more honest" to raise the amounts from taxation on the face of the budget. Town staff responded that Tamworth's unassigned balance is currently well above policy targets and that the board is recommending using roughly $611,000 of that balance now to bring the projected year‑end balance closer to target levels while funding capital work.

- Consolidation of finance and assessing: Board members, staff and several residents debated a proposal to consolidate two part‑time positions into one full‑time finance/assessing position and to fund a $10,000 training line to certify the existing part‑time assessing clerk in finance functions. Supporters said turnover and hiring difficulties made a combined full‑time role the most viable option; critics said they preferred hiring staff with established experience and were concerned about adding a full‑time benefits package. The board ultimately recommended the article financing that staffing approach.

- Library projects: The board recommended multiple library warrant articles including a sizable facilities and equipment article and a special appropriation for exterior painting; the rooftop solar article drew one dissenting vote on the board because of uncertainty about grant reimbursement timing.

Public input and staffing notes

Several residents and leaders of town organizations spoke during the hearing, asking questions about line items and explaining requests. Lisa Sargent, director of the Tamworth Preschool (doing business as the Fairchild Family School and Children’s Center), asked the board for support for the school‑age before‑and‑after‑school program where she said operating costs exceed parent fees and existing fundraising; the board recommended that petition article after discussion.

Next steps

The select board’s recommendations will be printed with the warrant and debated at the town meeting. Several articles the board recommended are contingent on external grants; the board and staff said projects dependent on grants would not proceed if the grants are not received.

Ending

Board members thanked department heads and volunteers who attended the hearing and noted that the budget drafting process had involved multiple committee meetings and public review. The town meeting and final voter decisions will determine which recommended warrant articles are approved and how much of the unassigned fund balance is ultimately used.