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Thompson selectmen send $12 million bond and budget-split question to referendum
Summary
At their April 7 meeting, the Thompson Board of Selectmen voted to send two questions to referendum — a $12,000,000 bond and a proposal to bifurcate the budget — and outlined voter check-in procedures ahead of next week’s vote.
First Selectman Nick Donahue said at the April 7 selectmen meeting that the board will send two questions to referendum, including a $12,000,000 bond and a separate question to split (bifurcate) portions of the town budget.
Donahue, who opened the meeting, said the board chose referendum rather than finalizing the items at town meeting so “it puts it in complete control of the people.” He told residents the board will provide a short slide presentation and make informational copies available: “Knowledge is power. Were gonna put all the facts out there for you.”
During the public-comment period, resident Wayne OBrien asked why the bond and road items had been bundled and questioned the chosen 15-year term for some debt. OBrien said he would prefer the road and town components be separated so taxpayers are not locked into a longer-term public-works debt for road repairs. “I would really like to know why we cant separate the 2,” OBrien said.
Donahue responded that the towns debt-service plan and borrowing timeline informed the 15-year term and that aiming for a shorter term would have raised annual costs. He said operating-budget contributions to roads continue—about $750,000 annually—and that the bond is intended to bring the towns capital needs up to date. He added the board opted for referendum to let voters decide and described a check-in procedure for town-meeting voting: registered voters will be checked in and receive a green wristband to allow a vote at town meeting.
The board did not adopt a bond ordinance at the April 7 session; instead, the selectmen voted to send the bond question and the budget-splitting question to referendum at the meeting scheduled for next Wednesday. Donahue cautioned that splitting budgets does not guarantee one sides passage will not affect the other: “Although you can make a state a statement saying, you know, I dont support x y z budget to move forward. It will still be 2 parted, and it will still hold up the other side,” he said.
What happens next: the board will hold an informational session at the meeting and provide printed materials. The referendum vote will be held next Wednesday per the boards timeline; additional procedural details will be provided by the town clerk and on the town website.
