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Boscawen advisory committee hears $406,706 proposed increase driven by health, wage and ambulance costs
Summary
Town officials told the Advisory Budget Committee the proposed 2026 budget would rise by $406,706, citing $105,749 in medical/dental insurance increases, $80,575 in salary raises and a $193,757 rise in ambulance personnel costs as primary drivers.
The Advisory Budget Committee met Jan. 14 at the Boscawen Municipal Facility to review the town’s proposed 2026 department budgets, which Select Board Chair Bill Bevans said begin with $415,604 in increases and, after adjustments, show a net proposed rise of $406,706.
Bevans said much of the increase is hard to reduce. The Select Board identified principale drivers: $105,749 for medical and dental insurance increases, $18,777 in salary-related costs such as taxes and retirement, and $80,575 in salary increases. Property and liability insurance rose by $7,246, and solid-waste tipping fees increased as well, the board said.
The outcome is a proposed town operating budget of $5,406,781, an overall 8.1% increase, the Select Board reported. Bevans told the committee that the $406,706 figure is the realistic starting point for negotiations, noting that many of the increases are fixed or contractually required.
Select Board members walked the committee through department-level changes. The executive budget rose for a longevity step and higher 2025 actuals while recording-secretary pay was reduced. Town Clerk costs were higher because 2026 will include three elections. Financial administration costs grew for audit services and finance/payroll software; the board intends to lock software rates for five years. Personnel administration saw the largest single increase—$117,866—largely for higher health insurance rates, two retiree plans and overlap costs to train a new Public Works Director.
Public safety budgets also increased. Police costs rose for a new taser contract, training and body-camera software. Fire expenses include turnout-gear purchases and radio reprogramming to a new digital platform. The town’s solid-waste line reflects a $3.50/ton state fee and a Wheelabrator contract increase.
Finance Director Kate Merrill provided per-employee health-cost figures: town annual costs are roughly $12,605 for a single plan, $25,210 for a two-person plan and $34,033 for a family plan; the town’s insurance buyout is $7,002.66.
The committee set follow-up questions for department heads—covering items such as election travel, health-officer line items, and public-works service lines—at an upcoming Jan. 21 meeting.
The meeting concluded without votes on final appropriations; the Select Board must still finalize warrant language and present articles to voters.
