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Board of Finance accepts Selectmen's FY2026-27 budget for further review, cuts $2,000 donation
Summary
At a special April 21 meeting the Board of Finance accepted the Board of Selectmen's proposed FY2026-27 budget as amended for further consideration, voted to eliminate a $2,000 donation request, and set a follow-up meeting to review fire commission budgets.
Sandy Brodeur, chair of the Board of Finance, presided over a special meeting Monday that accepted the Board of Selectmen's proposed FY2026-27 budget as amended for further review.
Joe Bellavance presented the Selectmen's budget principles and topline figures, noting a Board of Selectmen spending plan of $5,781,076 (a $233,111 increase) and a proposed townwide total of $32,322,089, a 3.65% rise over the current year. Board members questioned several line items and sought clarifications on interim financing and ambulance services during the presentation.
On minutes and motions: Bob Smanik moved to approve corrected minutes from April 15, 2026; Dave Lee seconded and the motion passed after the board agreed to specific wording changes recorded in the minutes. During budget review, Dave Lee moved to eliminate a $2,000 donation request from Quiet Corner Peer Support Group; Bob Smanik seconded and the motion passed.
After additional questions and discussion, Dave Lee moved to accept the Town's budget proposal as amended for further review; Bob Smanik seconded and the motion passed. The minutes do not record individual roll-call vote tallies for these motions.
Two members of the public offered brief comments: Lisa Arends raised concerns about election staff and equipment security, and Austin Tanner commented about the mill-rate increase. The Board set its next meeting for April 22, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Clifford B. Green Memorial Building to review the Fire Commissioners' budget proposals. The meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m.
Why this matters: accepting the Selectmen's proposal moves the town closer to a final budget and to a hearing process; the package presented would raise the estimated mill rate by about 0.53 mills under the proposal, producing a roughly $132 annual increase for a $250,000 assessed home based on the presentation's example.
