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Cheshire County officials brief Hinsdale Select Board on services and tax apportionment
Summary
Cheshire County representatives presented an overview of county services, programs and how DRA equalized valuations affect the county portion of local tax bills, and encouraged residents to use county outreach resources for more information.
Cheshire County representatives Chris Coates and Cheryl Trombly spoke to the Hinsdale Select Board on Jan. 27, presenting the county's "2026 Cheshire County At A Glance" materials and outlining programs that affect local residents.
They described 20 county departments and about 470 staff and highlighted specific responsibilities and programs including Maplewood Nursing Home and assisted living improvements, the county Department of Corrections population, Cheshire County EMS services and community education, Connected Families support for at‑risk children placed out of district, and dispatch and policing functions of the Sheriff’s Department. They also said the county runs a grants program and a grants course and noted non‑tax programs such as Cheshire County Community Power, a handyman program, an EMS academy, the SMART Ride partnership and the Monadnock Regional Rail Trail.
County staff explained how the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) uses equalized valuations to apportion the county budget across towns; those equalized values determine each town's percentage share of county taxes, and grants can offset some costs. "They stressed the importance of understanding what the county budget does and to call with questions," according to meeting minutes. The presenters also described county outreach including a twice‑monthly podcast and monthly radio participation and distributed a county at‑a‑glance handout for Hinsdale.
