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Selectboard hears administration budget; staff flags tech, insurance and pay pressures
Summary
Staff presented a 5% increase in the administration budget, citing pay and benefit changes, separate cyber‑security costs, and technology contracts (including one‑year services previously supported by ARPA). Board members pressed on AI tools, ballot-scanning costs and where small line‑item cuts can be made.
A staff member presented the proposed fiscal 2026 administration budget and told the Selectboard the plan represents roughly a 5% increase driven primarily by pay raises, rising health‑insurance costs and higher social‑security contributions.
The presenter said the town’s website is on a three‑year contract that will not renew until 2028, that technology spending increased last year when a one‑year services contract was used (partly paid with ARPA funds), and that the town has shifted cyber‑security into its own line at about $4,000 a year. Community meeting recording and archiving costs from the vendor were billed at roughly $3,000 and allocated across boards, the presenter said.
Selectboard members asked whether existing services in the town’s Google package (including Google Gemini AI) could replace subscriptions the presenter had proposed; the presenter said the town uses an AI drafting tool to speed policy and RFP drafts and that switching platforms would require a close comparison of capability and data controls. The staff member also explained the town’s office software is cloud‑hosted per IT recommendation to avoid data‑loss risk; the board discussed transitional costs funded with ARPA and the decision not to buy a separate CEO (permit) module.
On elections and ballot equipment, board members noted the ballot‑scanner is used routinely for state and federal elections but less often for local contests; when many write‑in races occur, ballots must be hand‑counted. The board discussed recent increases to a ballot‑clerks/meal line after the town moved from stipends to hourly pay.
Members probed smaller discretionary lines, asking whether an added $1,000 for office supplies and similar “niceties” could be trimmed this year. Staff said some items (printers, label machines) were requests rather than needs and agreed to review those lines and return scenarios showing small reductions.
The presentation closed with a request that the board consider scenarios for unassigned‑fund draws and wage scenarios (COLA only vs. higher adjustments) so the board can weigh spending on capital needs, the proposed salt‑shed, and ongoing operating pressures. The staff member and Selectboard agreed to circulate revised budgets and scenario options ahead of the next meeting.
The meeting adjourned by voice vote.
