Gilmanton selectmen flag tight 2025 budget, urge residents to attend Jan. 31 deliberative session

The Gilmanton Board of Selectmen on Jan. 22 reviewed preliminary 2025 spending and approved a one-page "Budget Snapshot" that illustrates the town's potential tax impact if all 27 warrant articles pass.

Town Administrator Heather Carpenter presented the snapshot, which uses a median house value of $500,000 and shows an estimated new tax rate reported in the meeting as $4.77 per $1,000 of assessed value, replacing a current rate of approximately $3.35. Carpenter said the final document will be included in the voter's guide and will feature charts breaking down town, school and county portions of the tax bill.

Finance Administrator Lauraine Paquin presented a preliminary 2025 expenditure report and cautioned the figures are not final because some 2025 invoices have not yet been received. Paquin noted outstanding items that will affect the final accounting, and Carpenter added that encumbrances exceed $125,000, cemetery adjustments are about $8,800, and legal bills typically run roughly two months behind. After adjustments, Carpenter said the final amount of unspent funds could be between $15,000 and $18,000, which she described as a very tight margin.

"While the day was successful, there was a significant imbalance in the time dedicated to the town and school budgets," Selectman Meredith Kelley said, reporting on "Super Saturday," where the town budget was reviewed in detail for nearly five hours while the school budget received roughly two hours of high-level review. Kelley and Vice Chairman Evan Collins both said public attendance fell off before the school presentation began.

Carpenter urged residents to attend the deliberative session on Jan. 31 at 10:00 a.m., saying it is the final opportunity to amend articles before they appear on the March ballot. The board approved the Budget Snapshot for public distribution and directed that the voter's guide be prepared for distribution.

The snapshot and expenditure report are preliminary; Paquin emphasized pending invoices and encumbrances mean final balances remain subject to change. The administration also reported that the 2025 audit has begun and auditors have requested changes to the town's deposit and police-detail processes, with a formal finding anticipated regarding deposits.

The board approved the Budget Snapshot for public release and scheduled follow-up items, including voter-guide preparation and additional policy reviews at upcoming meetings.