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Ashland reviews executive budget; audit fee, insurance and retirement costs highlighted
Summary
Town staff and committee members reviewed the proposed executive budget, noting a projected audit fee of $26,003.95, a 36.95% insurance increase largely tied to a $263,000 electric claim, and retirement and health-insurance cost pressures; the budget portion of the meeting was closed after questions and clarifications.
Town staff presented the executive budget and answered committee questions on personnel, insurance, benefits and operating lines.
In the presentation, the staff member said the town’s anticipated audit fee for next year is $26,003.95 and that the audit cost will be apportioned 50% to the general fund and the remainder to utilities because all pieces must be audited. The presenter also noted that if federal expenditures exceed $750,000 the town would face a single-audit requirement and budgeted a contingency for that possibility.
Insurance and benefit drivers: The presenter reported an overall insurance increase of about 36.95%, attributing much of that jump to an approximately $263,000 claim in the electric department that was apportioned to the utility. Workers' compensation costs rose about 41.6% according to the billing from PrimeX; retiree health insurance was reported up 16% (affecting 11 retirees, though only six months of the higher rate fall into the budget year), and medical insurance increased about 10.2%. The town covers 90% of employee premiums while employees contribute 10%.
Personnel and payroll notes: Salary-line changes were discussed (one town manager position allocation was reduced from last year’s hiring expense) and a proposed 3% raise for an administrative assistant in land use was presented. Retirement contribution rates set by the New Hampshire retirement system were cited as 12.75% for general employees and 30.95% for police.
Other items: The presenter said the town paid three years in advance for the new website and budgeted recurring server fees, reduced the copier lease line due to decreased usage, and plans to convert town phone lines to a voice-over-Internet service; the building inspector position is under an MOU with the Town of Plymouth and is estimated at about $40,000 based on 16 hours per week.
What’s next: The budget portion of the joint meeting was formally closed and will be revisited as rates and single-audit possibilities are clarified. The board asked staff to refine numbers and to return with updated analyses where needed.
Quotes from the meeting are included below to reflect the board’s focus on costs and oversight.
