Warner budget committee recommends $5.06 million operating budget, approves water district and multiple warrant articles

The Town of Warner budget committee voted to recommend a $5,057,709 operating budget and approved the Warner Village Water District operating budget of $549,604, along with a slate of warrant-article recommendations, the committee reported at its meeting.

The committee’s recommendations include revenue and warrant-article motions to be presented at town meeting: a town revenue recommendation of roughly $1,449,400; capital reserve additions for police vehicles ($15,000), bridge replacement ($125,000), highway equipment ($100,000), transfer-station equipment ($25,000), firefighters equipment ($30,000) and fire/rescue vehicles ($50,000); a $32,500 contribution to a property capital reserve fund; a $20,000 contingency fund; and a $6,500 emergency operations revolving fund established under RSA 31:95-h.

Chair opened the meeting, confirmed a quorum and called for approval of minutes from Feb. 10 and Feb. 12; the committee approved the minutes by roll call. Chair then turned discussion to the Water Village Water District budget. Alfred Hanson moved to recommend the district’s operating budget at $549,604; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call with members present voting to recommend the article.

The committee next considered the town operating budget. The chair moved to recommend the town operating budget of $5,057,708.74 (rounded for warrant presentation); the motion was seconded and approved by roll call. The budget committee also recommended the revenue figure the board will present to the legislative session, and members signed the MS‑737 certification for posting with the town clerk’s office.

On the warrant-article slate, each appropriation article was moved, seconded and recommended by roll call during the meeting. The committee discussed procedural clarifications for several articles and confirmed that donations and revenues dedicated to the emergency operations revolving fund would be deposited into that fund and would not be part of the town’s general fund balance.

Quotes from the meeting captured committee concerns about fiscal pressures. "The reality is our budget has increased substantially since 2020," said Bill Hanson, a budget committee member, arguing for continued attention to town-level cost controls as well as regional factors. The chair said the town should revisit employee health insurance cost-sharing, noting, "I don't think the town can afford a 100% payment on health insurance for our employees." Another committee member warned that the highway construction loan and deferred maintenance had driven a prior large budget spike and urged planning to avoid another significant funding gap.

Next steps: the committee recommended these items for presentation at town meeting and will file the certified MS‑737 form in the town clerk’s office so the warrant and recommended budget appear on the official posting. The committee adjourned after completing the slate of recommendations.