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Jaffrey budget committee tentatively approves $7.63 million operating budget; municipal tax up $0.74
Summary
The Town of Jaffrey Budget Committee tentatively approved a $7,633,215 operating budget for 2025, a $333,295 (4.6%) rise over 2024; including warrant articles the overall tax impact is 7.0% and a $0.74 increase in municipal taxes. Major drivers are law enforcement and public safety salaries and two new inspection/planning positions.
The Town of Jaffrey Budget Committee on Jan. 11 gave tentative approval to a proposed $7,633,215 operating budget for 2025, a $333,295 (4.6%) increase over the town’s adopted 2024 operating budget. Finance Director FitzGerald presented the package and said the total impact including warrant articles would raise taxes by $0.74 on the municipal rate and represent a 7.0% overall increase.
The committee heard that the largest single increases are $111,837 for law enforcement salaries (police and prosecution), $83,256 for public safety (fire, dispatch and ambulance services), and $63,886 for additional personnel including a planner and a part-time building inspector. FitzGerald also noted $21,230 for insurance, $19,278 for IT services, and a $11,137 increase for the library.
FitzGerald reported the statutory fund balance at $1,709,813 (7.86% of operating expenses) as determined by the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration, within the DRA-recommended 5–17% range. The town used $435,000 from unassigned fund balance in 2024 and set a municipal tax rate of $10.57 for that year; overall 2024 tax rate decreased $0.55.
Committee members proceeded with tentative, item-by-item approvals of departmental budgets. Votes recorded in the minutes show unanimous tentative approvals for the departments listed below (all votes recorded as 6-0 unless otherwise noted). Key tentative approvals included water $1,297,819; sewer $2,295,058; police $1,648,940; fire $556,726; library $380,140; and capital outlay $25,000. The committee will hold a public hearing Feb. 8 before taking final votes.
The committee and town staff emphasized continuing capital plans initiated in recent years, such as a 10-year paving program and a 10-year sidewalk reconstruction plan, and the maintenance of multiple capital reserve funds to fund equipment, bridges, municipal buildings and sidewalks.
The meeting recessed for a lunch break and resumed, then concluded at 12:57 p.m.; the Budget Committee will hold its public budget hearing on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 9 a.m. at the Fire Station.
