Epping board places $38 million wastewater treatment upgrade on town warrant

The Epping Board of Selectmen approved the 2026 warrant on Jan. 20, 2026, which includes Article 4 asking voters to authorize a $38,000,000 bond to fund an upgrade to the town's wastewater treatment facility.

The proposed bond would authorize the issuance of bonds or notes under the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33) and allow the town to apply for federal and state aid, including participation in the State Revolving Fund (RSA 486.14) to offset project costs. The Select Board recorded its recommendation in favor (5-0); the Municipal Budget Committee voted 10-0 to recommend the article and the Water & Sewer Commission recommended it 3-0. The article will require a three-fifths ballot vote to pass.

Town Administrator Jake T. Roger told the board the upgrade is framed to make the town eligible for federal and state funding streams and said the town will host a public Wastewater Education Event on Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. to explain the project to residents. Roger also proposed that, if the bond passes, 10% of the Town Administrator's salary be charged to the Water & Sewer budget to reflect closer coordination between the Select Board and the W&S Commission; the board expressed a positive consensus to that suggestion during the meeting.

Selectmen emphasized the project’s funding implications for taxpayers and the importance of public outreach before the deliberative session. The deliberative (first) session is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. at Epping Town Hall; the official ballot vote is set for March 10, 2026 at the O'Day School Gymnasium, with polls open 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

No formal bond vote occurred at the Jan. 20 meeting; the board's action was to accept the warrant containing the bond article and to set the schedule for public engagement and the town meeting process.