Bow Selectmen review proposed budget that would raise town tax rate to $4.91

Summary

Selectmen heard a staff presentation on a proposed budget that would raise the town portion of the tax rate from $4.62 to $4.91 (a 6.2% increase), discussed a new full-time fire administrative-captain position, police staffing and benefits assumptions, and a near-$170,000 increase in solid-waste costs under a new Casella contract. Members requested detailed follow-ups before the next session.

Bow — Bow Town selectmen reviewed a proposed fiscal-year budget on Dec. 3 that staff said would raise the town portion of the tax rate to $4.91 from the current $4.62, a 6.2% increase.

At a slide presentation, an unidentified presenter summarized capital and operating highlights and said the proposed tax-rate impact "is $4.91, which is an increase from $4.62 ... a 6.2% proposed increase." The presenter credited recent commercial growth and improved permitting systems for stronger revenues and said the town picked up roughly $37.8 million in gross assessed value from 2024 to 2025.

The board spent substantial time on personnel and benefit assumptions. Staff described a request from the fire department for a new, full-time "administrative captain" to consolidate a retiring part-time firefighter's duties, emergency-management tasks and health-officer responsibilities. Unidentified Speaker 6 said the position's total…

Bow Selectmen review proposed budget that would raise town tax rate to $4.91

Summary

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