Gilmanton Budget Committee recommends $5.47 million town budget, backs $1.5M infrastructure warrant and several public-safety items

The Gilmanton Budget Committee on Jan. 17 recommended the Town operating budget of $5,465,579 and voted to support a slate of warrant articles aimed at infrastructure maintenance and public-safety needs.

The committee (7-0) endorsed Article 5, a $1,500,000 appropriation to an Infrastructure Repairs and Upgrades Expendable Trust intended to address long-term capital repairs. Chairman Brian Forst said the capital request reflects “what is needed” to preserve town assets as revenues and costs shift.

Committee members also recommended several Fire Department measures, including a narrowly approved Article 6 (4-3) to fund one new full-time firefighter position ($132,611.44). Fire Chief Joe Hempel described ongoing equipment and personnel pressures and warned that a recent state law barring balance billing for ambulance services may reduce ambulance revenue: “the department can no longer pursue payment from individuals after their insurance has been exhausted,” a change Hempel said could increase reliance on property-tax funding.

Police and public-works items drew committee support as well. The Budget Committee recommended Article 13 to raise $75,000 for a new police cruiser (recommended 6-0); several smaller fire-equipment and SCBA reserve requests were also recommended. A petition to buy a new Transfer Station plow/facility vehicle (Article 14) failed (6-1) after members questioned whether Highway Department equipment should be prioritized first; however Article 15, a $13,800 appropriation for Recycling/Transfer Facility improvements, passed (6-1) to fund groundwork and site upgrades.

Sawyer Lake Village District business was handled separately: the committee recommended the SLVD operating budget of $110,780 and two safeguard warrant articles to fund Sawyer Lake Dam repairs, supporting a $30,000 contribution with a $15,000 fallback if the larger figure fails. The committee also recommended establishing an SLVD Mailbox Special Revenue Fund under RSA 31:95-c with an initial $100 deposit to restrict mailbox-lease revenues to mailbox maintenance.

Town Administrator Heather Carpenter emphasized tighter accounting and auditing standards, noting the town is paying for consultant support and preparing for a software transition to meet updated state and auditing requirements; Carpenter described the approach as “a multi-pronged approach.”

Votes at a glance - Town operating budget recommended: $5,465,579 (motion passed 7-0) - Article 5 (Infrastructure Repairs and Upgrades Expendable Trust): recommend $1,500,000 (passed 7-0) - Article 6 (one full-time firefighter): recommend $132,611.44 (passed 4-3) - Article 13 (police cruiser): recommend $75,000 (passed 6-0) - Article 14 (Transfer Station plow/facility vehicle): failed (6-1) - Article 15 (Recycling Transfer Facility Improvement CRF): recommend $13,800 (passed 6-1) - SLVD operating budget recommended: $110,780 (passed 7-0) - SLVD Article IV ($30,000 to Sawyer Lake Dam CRF) recommended (7-0); Article V ($15,000 fallback) also recommended (7-0)

What happens next The Budget Committee’s recommendations will be presented to voters at the Deliberative Session and Town Meeting. Several increases flagged as likely to return to voters (for example, Highway supply lines and infrastructure items) will be the subject of further discussion and possible amendments at Deliberative Session.