Select board reviews 2026 budget; considers dissolving TIF district to return revenue to taxpayers

Finance staff presented a revised recommended operating budget of $8,792,117 for 2026, a 5.04% increase over the 2025 operating budget as of the update. The presentation noted that merit or cost‑of‑living adjustments were not yet reflected and would be added next week. Board members asked detailed questions about payroll impacts, the ambulance contract and one‑time items that had inflated line items in 2025.

Board members discussed a plan to soften the ambulance contract increase by using $47,000 (one‑third) from the ambulance expendable trust fund as part of a three‑year phase‑in. Finance said the expendable trust had $142,000 and pulling one‑third would be roughly $47,000. The board indicated support for spreading the net increase across multiple years to reduce immediate tax‑rate shock.

Members also debated whether to place a March 2026 warrant article to dissolve the town’s TIF district once the underlying bond is paid off (scheduled for September 2026). Proponents argued that dissolving the TIF earlier would allow revenue that otherwise accrues to the TIF to return to the general fund and reduce taxpayers’ bills, while staff and the auditor cautioned that closing the TIF before paying off obligations could affect cash flow and the town’s fund‑balance policy. Staff committed to seeking follow‑up confirmation from the independent auditor and Department of Revenue (DRA) and to provide precise numbers for a possible warrant article.

The board then did a line‑by‑line review of departmental budgets — IT/technology consolidation, legal and professional services, planning overtime and office supplies — proposing targeted cuts or reclassification in several places. Multiple minor adjustments were proposed for the next meeting and staff will bring updated reports to the budget hearing scheduled for mid‑January.