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Ossipee approves $8.35 million operating budget; paving, police and outside agencies discussed
Summary
At town meeting Ossipee voters approved an $8,352,111 operating budget (secret ballot 124–19). Officials explained major items, including a $600,000 paving article, investments in highway equipment and a $10,000 body‑camera pilot for police. Several outside agencies received appropriations and the meeting included line‑by‑line votes before the final secret ballot on the total.
Voters reviewed the town operating budget line by line, with budget committee and selectmen recommendations guiding discussion. The total operating budget presented was $8,352,111. Department leaders explained key lines: the highway department’s request ($1,667,070) accompanied by an explanation from highway director TJ Eldridge of a move toward full reclamation and multi‑layer paving to extend road life; the police budget ($1,495,700) and a separate warrant to purchase body cameras; and public works and transfer station funding.
Highway director TJ Eldridge said the $600,000 paving article would allow reclamation and deeper base repairs for two to three miles of road this year, improving longevity compared with thin overlays. “We reclaimed the road and then repaved it... With 600,000 we can get two or three roads done that are going to last the town for a long period of time,” he said.
On police equipment, the board and chief debated options and costs for body cameras and cloud storage. The board proposed a $10,000 pilot system that would provide on‑site cameras and storage from a vendor described in testimony; the chief and some residents said full-featured systems run at substantially higher multi‑year cost (vendor quotations discussed ranged widely). Selectmen expressed a desire to trial a modest system before committing to a larger, multi‑year contract.
After line‑by‑line votes, the operating budget total went to secret ballot; the moderator announced a final tally of 124 yes to 19 no and the budget passed. The meeting also advanced a series of capital and expendable trust fund appropriations (bridges, equipment, building ETF, recreation and technology CRFs) and dozens of outside agency requests, most of which passed as presented.
Next steps: selectmen and departments will proceed with projects funded in the budget and report back on major capital procurements; residents asked for follow‑up explanations of large increases (paving, interest on line of credit and patriotic/fireworks spending).
