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Stoddard selectmen grapple with unbudgeted mutual-aid bill; set community grants and small budget tweaks
Summary
At its Feb. 23 meeting the Stoddard Board of Selectmen reviewed an unbudgeted threefold increase in a mutual aid bill and approved a set of community organization grants while adjusting line items such as professional dues and the election budget.
The Stoddard Board of Selectmen on Feb. 23 reviewed a corrected mutual aid invoice that increased the town's liability threefold and is due April 1, 2026, and discussed its effect on the proposed town budget.
The board said the townwide budget shows a 6.15% increase overall; selectmen attributed most of the rise to a 237% increase in ambulance services costs and a $20,000 increase for police employment. Selectmen reported that the ambulance and Southwest Mutual Aid line items together added roughly $60,000 to the draft budget.
Town officials also reported tax-collection figures: $2,430,996.83 collected to date, with $109,633 remaining to be collected; 99 delinquent notices have been sent. The board adjusted the election budget, reclassifying some training costs as salaries and adding $1,500 to cover public testing of ballot machines and an additional $300 for training fees noted elsewhere.
On community support, the board approved funding line items for local organizations: Tiny Tummies $2,500; Food Pantry $5,200; Southwestern Community Service $1,300; Monadnock Family Services $1,850; Home Health Care $1,000; and Community Kitchen $1,500. Separately, the board increased the professional dues budget from $500 to $1,100 to partially cover an MLS subscription used for code enforcement work.
Board members discussed next steps for the budget process: a public budget hearing is scheduled for March 30, 2026, at 7:00 PM following a 6:00 PM regular meeting. The board emphasized that some cost changes stem from corrected vendor billing rather than new services.
The meeting adjourned at 9:44 PM; minutes were submitted by Selectman Aisha Khan.
