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Draft budget shows tax‑levy increase as Select Board and Budget Committee debate ambulance review and Bass Road petition
Summary
Town staff presented a draft budget that would raise $938,737 through taxation (with $950,591 identified as the fire‑station bond payment); the meeting also included Budget Committee concerns about ambulance funding work conducted in non‑public session and resident petitions to close one end of Bass Road.
Town Administrator Nicole MacStay and Finance Director Lilli Gilligan presented the draft 2025 budget to the joint Select Board and Budget Committee on Feb. 18, outlining significant cost pressures and several proposed warrant articles ahead of Town Meeting.
Ms. MacStay said, "The total proposed to be raised through taxation is up by $938,737. $950,591 of that is for the fire station bond payment." She also reported that the operating portion of the budget has decreased by $11,854, while staff are proposing a 2% cost‑of‑living adjustment and a merit pool of up to 2%. Ms. MacStay noted notable cost increases: health insurance premiums up 10.5%, worker's compensation up 12% and property liability up 9%.
Later in the meeting Ms. MacStay responded to a direct request for a year‑over‑year percent change and stated the increase as $1,638,256 (15.5%). Finance Director Lilli Gilligan estimated a projected year‑end shortfall of approximately $90,000. The minutes record both figures as spoken in meeting discussion; the larger figure was presented later in the meeting when answering a percent‑increase question.
Budget Committee member Carl Mabbs‑Zeno criticized use of a non‑public session to review ambulance service alternatives, saying it limited the committee's ability to interact with the public and endorse decisions. Ms. MacStay said the non‑public session was held because the discussion involved personnel matters and the interests of outside entities; she said alternatives mainly concerned levels of service and complications around transfer service. Other committee members asked whether rules prevented Budget Committee participation in non‑public sessions and asked for clearer explanation of alternatives that were considered.
Staff reviewed several draft warrant articles to be presented at Town Meeting, including funding requests for a police fleet ($125,000), public works fleet ($300,000), roadway maintenance/reconstruction ($400,000), culverts and dams ($400,000), Adams Pool ($35,000), and ambulance equipment ($375,000). Discussion included the potential use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds moved from escrow into expendable trust funds, which staff said would not increase property taxes.
Residents petitioned to close one end of Bass Road — an unpaved cut‑through between Route 101 and Route 123 — to reduce cut‑through traffic and speeding. Committee members noted that closing the road would require a turnaround for emergency vehicles and that no traffic calculations had been provided; staff said the cost to implement closure would be minimal.
What happens next: staff will continue to refine budget materials and the committee discussed drafting one or more warrant articles (including potentially a semiquincentennial funding warrant). Many capital requests remain proposals pending Town Meeting votes. The minutes record motions approving several procedural items and two formal approvals (recreation fee changes and breathing‑air equipment purchases) that were considered earlier in the meeting.
