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Lisbon Board of Finance votes 4–2 to raise mill rate to 27.7; approves budget-balancing moves
Summary
The Board of Finance on May 20 set the 2026–27 mill rate at 27.7 (an increase of 1.0 mil) after debate about using General Fund reserves; the board also voted unanimously to recommend keeping $157,000 in state tax-relief funds in the General Fund and to withdraw $348,000 from reserves to balance the budget.
The Lisbon Board of Finance voted 4–2 on May 20 to raise the town's mill rate by one mill, setting it at 27.7 for the 2026–27 fiscal year after discussion about using reserves to close the budget gap.
Board member Mike Zelasky moved to set the mill rate at 27.7, citing the need to balance revenue and services; Susan Hull seconded the motion. The motion passed 4–2. Voting yes were Mike Zelasky, Susan Hull, Richard Rogers and Dave Wood; Wayne Donaldson and Jonathan Maynard voted no. The board record shows the motion as: "Motion M. Zelasky second S. Hull to set the mil rate to 27.7, an increase of 1 mil. VOTE YES: M. Zelasky, S. Hull, R. Rogers, D. Wood VOTE NO: W. Donaldson, J. Maynard MOTION PASSED 4-2."
The board also approved several related budget measures. By unanimous vote, members recommended to the Board of Selectmen that $157,000 in state tax-relief grant funds remain in the General Fund rather than be allocated immediately for other uses. The board then voted unanimously to remove $348,000 from the General Fund to balance the proposed 2026–27 budget.
In a separate motion the board approved the tax collector's Suspense List request totaling $38,415.17; that motion passed unanimously. Earlier in the meeting the board also voted unanimously to accept three sets of prior minutes from April (4/13/26 public hearing; 4/15/26 regular meeting; 4/21/26 special meeting).
The board's recommendation regarding the state tax-relief funds will be forwarded to the Board of Selectmen for action. There was no formal amendment to the mill-rate motion recorded; the minutes do not specify further changes to departmental appropriations. The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
