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Select board presents $8.94 million 2026 budget; ambulance contract drives large increase
Summary
The proposed 2026 operating budget is $8,939,036 (about $47,000 over the default). Town staff said the large year‑over‑year increase is driven in part by an increase in the Cheshire EMS contract to $211,618; the administration recommends partial use of expendable trust funds to offset the ambulance cost.
Town Administrator Laurie Rodiola presented the town’s proposed operating budget for 2026: $8,939,036, roughly $47,000 above the default budget and $569,036 (6.8%) over the 2025 budget. Rodiola said key cost drivers include wage and benefit pressures, health insurance increases (healthcare +6.7% noted), property/liability insurance, and an increased ambulance contract.
Officials said the town’s contracted ambulance service with Cheshire EMS rose substantially for the coming budget year. Rodiola summarized the contract accounting as: the town’s ambulance contract expense will be $211,618 for 2026 (the contract year runs July–June), up from the $75,000 line in the 2025 budget; the Select Board proposed applying $47,000 from an ambulance expendable trust fund to offset the impact in 2026.
Residents pressed whether the town could provide ambulance/EMS services directly, and whether cost‑recovery by billing insurance or charging users could cover the expense. Staff and select board members said operating a municipal ambulance service is capital‑ and labor‑intensive — former estimates showed wages for a 24/7 three‑person professional ambulance crew in excess of $1.2 million (figure cited by staff from a prior feasibility study). Town staff said the town would pursue competitive bids for ambulance service; if Cheshire EMS remains the provider, the contract will be implemented as proposed. The board emphasized limited opportunities to find further cuts and urged exploration of revenue growth (economic development) and long‑term planning to stabilize taxes.
The moderator accepted a motion to end debate (call the question) and the body voted to advance Article 6 to the ballot.
What’s next: Article 6 will appear on the March ballot in the form presented; if voters reject the proposed budget the town falls back to the statutory default budget.
