Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Warner voters approve $4.56 million operating budget amid questions over tax impact
Summary
Warner residents approved a $4,563,087 municipal operating budget for 2024 after a presentation and questions about transfer station staffing, fire-department calls and an expected $11.07 projected tax rate, which the presenter said is conservative pending the Department of Revenue review.
Warner — Voters at Warner’s annual town meeting on March 12 approved a $4,563,087 operating budget for 2024 after discussion about staffing and service-cost increases and a paper-ballot vote.
Michael Cutting presented the operating budget and said the town is “very conservative with the numbers,” and noted the Department of Revenue will review figures in the fall and could adjust the tax rate then. He said the projected tax rate for 2024 is $11.07, a 7.68% increase from the prior year.
Tim Allen, speaking on the Transfer Station budget line, said the department aims to hire and train new staff to maintain continuity as current employees retire. Jonathan France addressed the Fire Department increase, saying more calls are medical in nature and that higher pay is needed to recruit and retain responders.
During discussion, voters requested a paper ballot on Article 4. The paper-ballot tally recorded 205 votes in favor and 103 opposed; the article passed.
The moderator announced that loan payments for infrastructure projects, including roads and a fire-station loan, are included in the operating-budget figures. Select board and budget-committee recommendations for Article 4 were recorded in the warrant as unanimous (Budget Committee 7–0; Select Board 3–0).
The meeting proceeded to other warrant articles and adjourned at 11:00 PM; a continuation was scheduled for March 13 at 6:00 PM at Town Hall.
