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Canaan public hearing covers 2026 revenue, water-rate hike, ambulance billing and policing questions
Summary
At the Jan. 15 public hearing the Budget Committee reviewed the proposed 2026 budget totals, discussed a recovered $550,000 uncollectible revenue shortfall, planned July water-rate increases, ambulance billing changes and questions about adding a police officer.
The Canaan Budget Committee opened a public hearing on Jan. 15 to review the proposed 2026 budget and hear public comment on revenue assumptions, service funding and town operations.
Chair Sal Percia presented the town’s revenue figure of $2,305,426 and said the General Fund amount is $6,376,757.35; he noted that if all warrant articles pass the amount to be raised would be $5,033,334.67 and that warrant-article totals would equal $962,003. Town Administrator Chet Hagenbarth told the committee that prior municipal accounts included $550,000 of revenue that had been considered uncollectible and that capital funds were underfunded; he said the shortfall has been addressed and a plan is in place to improve the capital improvement plan (CIP).
Public comment and committee discussion highlighted several operational issues. Attendees said the increase between the 2026 and 2025 budgets was about $214,000. The committee and staff said water rates will be increased in July and that prior billing-system problems left no recorded collections for the fourth quarter; town staff plan to collect those amounts going forward under the revised rates. The ambulance service’s fiscal losses were discussed; committee members said the service has switched to a new billing and collection vendor and has raised rates, steps expected to reduce the current loss, and that outstanding receivables in Grafton County are expected to be resolved.
Committee members also discussed policing levels and a proposal for an additional police officer, and public commenters raised concerns about property valuation growth and state unfunded mandates; meeting participants cited a reported 44% growth in property valuation since 2015 as part of that context. The committee emphasized that it reviewed expenses and revenue projections carefully and that the town is fully staffed after recent vacancies were filled.
With no further public comment, Chair Percia closed the hearing at 7:03 PM. The Budget Committee recessed the public hearing until the Town Deliberative Session on Jan. 31, 2026, at Mascoma High School Auditorium, where final citizen deliberation and votes will occur.
