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Draft 2026 budget would raise local property taxes about 7%; commissioners ask outside agencies to present impact
Summary
Commissioners reviewed the 2026 draft budget, noting a ~7% taxpayer increase from last year; they asked UNH Cooperative Extension, the Belknap County Conservation District and Lakes Region Mental Health (and other outside agencies) to present how proposed cuts would affect services before a final vote.
Commissioner representatives reviewed the draft 2026 budget and discussed its effect on taxpayers and outside agency funding. Speaker 5 presented the printed 2026 budget and said it reflects a taxpayer increase of about 7% over last year (last year ~5.6%). Speaker 5 said the current draft is an improvement from an earlier recommended increase of about 12.5% presented to the delegation.
Commissioners asked for clearer summary documents showing departments’ original requests and the reductions made during budget work sessions; Speaker 3 said department requests were reduced by approximately $567,784 during that work. Commissioners debated whether to vote on the bottom-line budget now or wait for presentations from outside agencies.
Speaker 3 asked that the UNH Cooperative Extension and the Belknap County Conservation District be invited to a future meeting to explain the consequences of a 50% funding reduction; Lakes Region Mental Health (cut to $16,000 in the draft) and newer requests such as CASA and Tilton-Northfield Recreation were also discussed as candidates to present. The board agreed to invite those outside agencies to present after the holidays in January if they wish, and to consider restoring funding depending on those presentations.
On CASA funding, Speaker 1 said the $7,500 appropriation was put in by a member of the delegation two years ago and was not the commissioners’ original recommendation; Speaker 5 added the county pays quarterly and that CASA had not yet requested payment, so no funds had been sent. Commissioners discussed collapsing departmental presentations for the December 17 meeting to make review easier for staff and trustees.
No final budget adoption vote was recorded at this meeting; commissioners discussed timing and requested follow-up presentations from outside agencies before making a final motion.
