Brookline Select Board opens 2026 budget hearing; approves $110,000 surety for Countryside Drive phase 3

The Brookline Select Board opened a public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget and spent the evening reviewing department budgets, proposed warrant articles and capital needs. The board unanimously approved a $110,000 bond or other form of surety for completion of Phase 3 of Countryside Drive and recessed the hearing until Jan. 13 to finish votes on warrant articles.

The hearing began with highway, streets and bridges, where Scott, the department presenter, told the board salaries rose because of the new compensation policy and overtime climbed after a difficult winter. He said roadside and brush‑cutting was reduced from the October proposal of $15,000 to $10,000 because the town’s new roadside mower and in‑house labor reduced contractor reliance. "Salaries did change a little bit because of the compensation change," Scott said, adding that some roads will need reclamation, not just an overlay, to stop repeated deterioration.

The board read a series of warrant articles that it plans to take up formally at the next meeting. One article (EMP) would raise and appropriate $102,665.74 to hire two full‑time public works employees (the packet lists $59,180.80 in pay and $42,185.78 in benefits for seven months of 2026; the 12‑month annualized cost is shown as $183,651.82). Scott said the DPW currently staffs five people, and adding two employees would bring staffing to seven but still fall short of comparable towns. "We are way understaffed as far as highway streets work," he said.

Board members also discussed two capital‑fund warrant articles intended to smooth future costs. One would establish a gravel road upgrade revolving fund under RSA 31:95‑h with a $50,000 initial deposit and $50,000 annual funding proposed for 2026–2030, with a restriction that no expenditures be made before 2031. Another would reestablish a public‑works equipment capital reserve under RSA 35:1 and fund it with $50,000 up front and a minimum five‑year commitment; proponents cited high costs for heavy equipment (a new dump truck and plow package was cited at roughly $250,000) and argued saving in advance avoids repeated bonding.

On the police budget, the board noted three vacant positions and equipment requests including body armor and uniform allowances. Chief Hebert described vehicle‑outfitting needs and said the town’s detail fund currently holds about $61,000, which could be used to reduce the taxable funding need for a new cruiser’s up‑fit. The packet shows a 2026 appropriation for new cruisers of $72,500; board members discussed whether to apply about $20,000 from the detail fund to offset that expense.

Communications costs also drew attention: the town’s share of the Hollis Communications dispatch contract came in higher than projected, raising Brookline’s communications line to about $319,316 and the town communications budget to $323,317 for 2026. The board was told the existing three‑year agreement ends next year and will require renegotiation.

Finance reported the town closed 2025 with an adjusted balance of roughly $873,005.84 to be added to the unassigned fund balance. The board signed the final 2025 warrant (listed in packet at $170,001.12) by unanimous vote.

In a business motion near the end of the meeting, Jerry moved and the motion was seconded to require a $110,000 bond or other form of surety acceptable to town counsel to guarantee completion of Countryside Drive Phase 3. The board voted unanimously to approve the surety requirement. "If they walk away from it, we'll have the money to be able to finish the road," a member explained during questions about the motion.

The Select Board recessed the 2026 budget public hearing to continue the work tomorrow night, Jan. 13, at the Brookline Fire Station Meeting Room at 6:30 p.m., where members plan to finalize votes on the warrant articles and any outstanding budget adjustments.