Atkinson Budget Committee recommends 2026 operating budget after line-item reductions, declines police station bond

The Atkinson Budget Committee voted Jan. 20 to recommend a 2026 operating budget of $7,912,319, approving several targeted line-item reductions and issuing recommendations for the town’s warrant articles ahead of Town Meeting.

Chair Bill Smith opened the public hearing at 6:30 p.m. and heard brief public comments before the committee moved into budget line-item votes. Member Gene Rizzo asked, “What are the odds of having a full staff for the entire year?” and Chair Bill Smith said the police chief expects to be fully staffed early in 2026. During public comment, Jill Ottow expressed concern about cutting library hours, and Don Doughty asked whether the committee was following standard accounting procedures “according to RSA 91A2, Section IIc,” calling cuts to the library “shortsighted.” Town Administrator John Apple summarized efforts by the Budget Committee and the Board of Selectmen to lower costs.

On motions to adjust specific accounts, the committee approved a series of unanimous roll-call votes to reduce budget lines: Chair Smith’s motion to reduce Legal Services (Line 41530.390.00) to $6,000 passed 7-0; a motion to lower Police Health Insurance (Line 42100.210.00) to $135,235 passed 7-0; Vice Chair Bob Malo’s motion to reduce Police Supervisor pay (Line 42100.110.06) to $296,756 passed 7-0; and motions to trim DPW Public Works Staff (Line 43110.110.00) to $161,546, Solid Waste OPS (Line 43240.390.00) to $624,000, and Recreation Director pay (Line 45201.110.00) to $62,840 also passed unanimously.

Chair Smith then moved to recommend the new budget total of $7,912,319, which the agenda notes is a 9.77% increase over the 2025 budget. The motion proceeded to a roll-call vote after no second was recorded; five members voted in favor and two opposed (5-2-0), and the committee recorded the recommendation.

On warrant-article recommendations, the committee split on several items. The Budget Committee did not recommend Warrant Article 2026-02 (Phase 1 Police Station & DPW) after a 3-4 vote against recommending the article. The committee recommended Warrant Article 2026-04 (Operating Budget) by a 5-2 vote and reaffirmed unanimous support for Warrant Article 2026-05 (Shim & Overlay) and Warrant Article 2026-07 (Fire Department Capital Reserve), both 7-0. The committee did not recommend Warrant Article 2026-06 (Fire Department Command Vehicle) after a 3-4 vote. Warrant Article 2026-08 (Building Needs Expendable Trust Fund) was recommended 6-1; Warrant Article 2026-09 (Highway Department Capital Reserve Fund) was recommended 5-2. The committee opposed Warrant Article 2026-10 (Loader/Backhoe purchase) by a 1-6 vote. Warrant Article 2026-11 (Revised Tax Credit, petition) was recommended 7-0, Warrant Article 2026-12 (SoRock petition) was not recommended (0-7), and Warrant Article 2026-13 (Town Treasurer compensation increase, petition) was recommended 6-1.

The committee adjourned at 9:14 p.m. The Board of Selectmen was scheduled to meet immediately afterward to record their final votes for Town Meeting presentation.

Actions recorded in the meeting minutes included explicit line-item reductions, a recommended operating budget total, and individual recommendations for each warrant article; vote tallies and whether the committee recommended each article were entered into the official roll-call record.

Next steps: the recommendations and vote tallies will be included in warrant materials presented at Town Meeting and considered by the Board of Selectmen in their immediate follow-up meeting.