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Selectmen review preliminary 2025 budget; payroll at about $2.32 million, retirement rates to drop next July
Summary
Town staff presented a preliminary budget using last year's appropriations plus a 2.5% baseline increase, showing payroll appropriations around $2,318,000 for 2025; staff said retirement contribution rates are expected to fall on July 1, 2025 and that a special meeting may be required to set the tax rate once DRA responds.
Town staff presented the Greenland Board of Selectmen with a preliminary budget packet on Oct. 7 that uses last year’s appropriations as a baseline and applies a 2.5% increase to produce the draft 2025 figures. The packet included a department breakout showing payroll appropriations of just over $2,318,000 for 2025 with police, fire and general government line items highlighted.
The presenter said retirement contribution rates are forecast to fall effective July 1, 2025, which will reduce employer retirement costs across departments; staff noted the reduction will take effect mid‑year. Department‑level notes included a small increase to ambulance supplies and a $10,000 increase to protective equipment for the fire department to replace expiring gear. The code enforcement officer payroll remains budgeted under the fire department and will be reflected in next year’s figures.
On public works, staff said the contracted amount with Piscataqua for road maintenance remains about $798,000 and proposed adding a line for tree replacement and a modest increase to a mosquito/pest‑control line. Charitable requests (town‑funded grants) varied from small ($225) to larger ($10,000) requests; staff said they will return with recommended totals for the board to consider.
Staff reminded the board that county tax numbers were not finalized (a placeholder itemized at roughly $840,000 in the packet) and that the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) still needed to set the tax rate; the town may need a special meeting to adopt the rate once DRA replies. An auditor/CPA meeting was scheduled the following Tuesday to finalize audit items and payroll records; staff said a balance sheet should be available afterward.
Why it matters: the preliminary figures and department notes set the framework for upcoming warrant articles and the town’s 2025 revenues and tax rate. Board members asked questions about encumbrances, potential warrant articles to fund roads and how much of the current road program will roll into next year’s requests.
Next steps: staff will continue department meetings, return detailed charity recommendations and bring updated county tax figures and DRA communications so the board can finalize appropriations and any necessary warrant articles.
