Alton Town Budget Committee approves 2026 default budget and departmental defaults

The Alton Town Budget Committee voted to adopt the town's 2026 default operating budget of $9,795,561 and approved related departmental defaults, including a $1,326,135 budget for the fire department and a $599,653 default for the water department.

Drew Carter moved to approve the 2026 fire department budget "for a total of $1,326,135," and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The committee then approved the water department default after staff explained that end-user funding and a recent new employee increased benefit costs, raising the water default by $49,223 to $599,653.

Budget staff walked the committee through the town default line by line, noting required items and modest increases: elections costs rise by $3,729 because the town will hold three elections next year, and benefits (FICA, Medicare, health, dental, retirement) account for roughly a $44,320 increase on a $2.8 million line. Presenters said those legally required items account for most of the default change and that the overall operating-default increase is approximately $66,005.49.

Committee discussion referenced the town's recent history with warrant articles: a presenter said last year voters approved about $3.2 million in warrant articles that contributed to a tax increase and default budget conditions. The board also reviewed capital reserve funds and discussed a possible one-year pause of new CIP (capital improvements program) contributions to ease taxpayer burden while staffing shortages are addressed.

The committee approved the default budgets by voice vote; minutes from 11/20/2025 were approved later in the meeting. The committee confirmed its next regular meeting for Thursday, Dec. 18, and scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday, Jan. 7, with snow dates Jan. 14 and Jan. 15.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve agenda: approved by voice vote (no opposition recorded). - Fire department 2026 budget ($1,326,135): motion moved and seconded; approved by voice vote. - Water department default ($599,653): motion moved, seconded; approved by voice vote. - Town default budget (2026) ($9,795,561): motion moved, seconded; approved by voice vote. - Minutes of 11/20/2025: approved by voice vote.

The committee did not record formal tallies in the transcript for each vote; approvals were recorded by voice as "Aye" with no opposition reported in the meeting record. The public hearing and any final warrant article presentation will occur in January, as scheduled.