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Select Board advances FY27 budget and opts for grouped warrant questions for town vote
Summary
The Select Board approved the FY27 municipal budget as amended, reduced the five‑year capital roads reserve target to $800,000, and chose a warrant format (option two) that presents the municipal budget and grouped provider-agency question while leaving two petitioned agencies separate.
The Newcastle Select Board on March 9 voted to approve the FY27 municipal budget as amended and to present a multi-question warrant to voters rather than a single, consolidated budget question.
Finance Director Michelle summarized budget changes and a provisional five‑year capital roads plan. The board discussed a near‑$1 million five‑year estimate and agreed to reduce the capital roads reserve to $800,000 (a $100,000 decrease) by postponing the sand/salt shed. Members debated which road projects to prioritize — River Road, Hopkins Hill and Mills Road were mentioned — and whether to earmark a $50,000 sidewalk allocation for Mills Road as a placeholder until final engineering estimates are available.
Thomas and other board members argued the capital roads account should function as a flexible reserve rather than a fixed project list; board members agreed to keep the road reserve as a bottom-line figure that can be applied to prioritized projects in the coming fiscal year. The budget motion, including those amendments, carried at the meeting.
Separately, the board spent significant time deciding how to present warrant articles to voters. After discussion about ballot length, participation, provider agencies and the logistics of a potentially long ballot day, the board first considered a more segmented approach (option four) which failed. The board then approved option two — presenting the municipal budget as one ballot question, grouping the non-petitioned provider agencies together, and leaving two petitioned agencies as separate warrant items. The motion to pursue option two passed unanimously.
Board members also discussed operational implications for Election Day: adding voting booths, encouraging absentee voting and preparing summary materials and line-item documentation for voters at the polling place and on the town website.
What happens next: Staff will finalize warrant language and supporting documents. The board directed staff to post the budget documents, distribute clarifying information for voters and prepare for the public hearing on April 13 (warrant-signing and final review).
