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Salisbury budget committee approves $2.21 million 2026 budget after brief public hearing
Summary
The Salisbury Budget Committee on Feb. 2 approved a $2,211,579 total budget for 2026—$1,901,958 for operating and $309,621 for warrant articles—after a public hearing that reviewed line-item reallocations, a $79,265 (3.7%) overall increase, and a pending reimbursement tied to permitting.
The Salisbury Budget Committee voted Feb. 2 to accept a $2,211,579 total budget for 2026, approving an operating budget of $1,901,958 and $309,621 for warrant articles after a short public hearing.
Chair Marcia Murphy, who opened the public hearing, said the total budget is up by $79,265, an increase of 3.7%. "Total budget is up by $79,265, an increase of 3.7%," Murphy said as she reviewed changes across department lines.
The committee review highlighted several line-item changes: salaries increased by $8,800; the elections line rose because the town will hold three elections in 2026 instead of one; General Government Buildings increased by $80,000, of which $23,612 was covered by decreases to capital reserve funds; ambulance billing was increased; and Highway Maintenance shows a $200,000 transfer from Highway Projects to 4312-40 (Paving Maintenance) that keeps combined highway funding level-funded while reallocating where the money is tracked. Miscellaneous increases include postage, supplies, software, maintenance and auditing; decreases include cemeteries ($300), insurance ($2,300) and assessing ($5,500).
Road Agent Bill MacDuffie Jr. clarified that the $200,000 moved into paving maintenance "will not always be for paving" and that some budget lines appear unspent because funds were encumbered for planned work. Bill MacDuffie Sr. asked whether the town had been reimbursed for the Tucker Pond project; Town Administrator April Rollins said the reimbursement has not been received because permitting is not complete and that the town will pay the permit fees.
Brett Walker moved to accept the operating budget and warrant-article total; David Kelly seconded, and the motion carried, recorded in the minutes as "in the affirmative." The minutes do not list a roll-call tally.
Committee members also noted upcoming school budget events: Lorna Carlisle said the school budget public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4 at 6 p.m., and the school annual meeting is March 5 at 7 p.m. The committee signed form MS-737 before adjourning at 7:18 p.m.
The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for April 13, 2026, at 7 p.m. at Academy Hall.
