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Budget Committee backs most warrant articles, approves plan to transition ambulance service and other capital items
Summary
On Jan. 13 the Budget Committee recommended most warrant articles including funding to establish a town-run ambulance service, bridge funding for contracted ambulance coverage, police cruiser replacements and several infrastructure projects; a citizen petition for an independent operations review failed to gain committee support.
The Wolfeboro Budget Committee on Jan. 13 recommended a slate of warrant articles for the 2026 town warrant, including a plan to transition ambulance transport to a town-run service and multiple capital projects.
Ambulance and emergency services: The committee recommended Article to raise $1,084,966 to establish a fire-based ambulance service (hire four firefighter/EMS personnel and buy an ambulance). That motion passed 9-1-0. The committee also approved an Article to pay $96,104 tied to impact negotiations (wage/benefit costs for existing employees) by a 9-1-0 vote. Town Manager Jim Pineo explained the staged approach: the operating budget and separate warrant articles together would fund contracted coverage through part of 2026 while the town hires staff and acquires equipment to transition to a town-operated ambulance service.
Contracted ambulance funding: Committee members approved $292,097 to fund contracted ambulance coverage through Dec. 31, 2026; combined with operating-budget funds the total contract appropriation for 2026 is $568,080. Pineo said if the warrant article fails the town would plan to operate ambulance services sooner and terminate the existing contract before year-end.
Police cruisers and capital projects: The Budget Committee unanimously recommended $140,000 to buy two police cruisers after Police Chief Christopher Warn described fleet needs and the committee reiterated prior practice to buy approximately one cruiser per year to maintain a 10-vehicle fleet. Other capital warrant articles recommended included town road upgrades ($900,000; passed 8-1-1), wastewater treatment plant repairs ($175,000; passed unanimously), small sewer pump station repairs ($100,000), sidewalk repairs ($75,000), and Foss Field court resurfacing ($50,000).
Citizen petitions and contested items: A citizen petition to fund an independent organizational operations review ($75,000) was presented by Anne Blodget of Citizens for Wolfeboro; after discussion the motion to recommend the petition failed on a 4-4-2 vote and the committee did not recommend the article. A separate petition to add $5,000 to the Libby Museum capital reserve fund was tabled by the Select Board to Jan. 21 for further legal review.
Votes at a glance (selected): Article 5 (Operating Budget) — recommend 9-1-0; Ambulance Staffing — recommend 9-1-0; Ambulance Impact Negotiations — recommend 9-1-0; Contracted Ambulance Services — recommend 9-0-1; Police Cruiser Replacement (2) — recommend 10-0-0; Town Road Upgrades — recommend 8-1-1.
Next steps: The public hearing was continued to Jan. 22 for remaining items; the deliberative session is scheduled for Feb. 3 and the town meeting vote is set for March 10.
