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Wolfeboro Budget Committee to use Town Manager's budget slides, pledges clearer visuals at deliberative session
Summary
The committee voted unanimously to present Town Manager Jim Pineo's PowerPoint at the Deliberative Session, with members requesting larger graphics, department-by-department breakdowns, and a narrative packet published in advance to help residents understand drivers of the 2026 budget.
The Wolfeboro Budget Committee voted Jan. 15 to present Town Manager Jim Pineo's PowerPoint at the Deliberative Session and to provide a department-by-department breakdown in the packet, aiming to make the 2026 operating budget easier for residents to follow.
The vote was unanimous (10-0-0). Committee members said the Jan. 13 public hearing drew criticism that slides were too small and the presentation lacked narrative context. "If people say they don't understand it, then the Committee needs to get the public to understand the differences," Justin Brown said during the discussion.
Committee members recommended several changes: larger slide fonts and printed large-format slides at the meeting, more graphs and pie charts, and a narrative document that explains year-to-year drivers for each department. Chair John MacDonald and others noted RSA Chapter 32 governs required content for the presentation but said the committee can improve public-facing materials within those constraints.
The committee asked Manager Pineo to prepare the same slide set for the Deliberative Session and to include dollar amounts and percent changes on series or department slides rather than only comparisons to 2025. Pineo told the committee the MS-737 budget form would be completed before the Deliberative Session and that two presentation versions (detailed by department and a summary) would be available.
The committee also discussed public outreach and letters to the editor but declined to issue official committee letters. Several members asked staff to keep budget pages and narratives updated on the town website so voters can review numbers in advance.
The committee plans to continue the budget public hearing work at its Jan. 22 meeting and to present the revised materials at the Deliberative Session.
