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Lyme Budget Committee reviews 2026 department budgets; Transfer Station flags landfill-fee-driven cost increases
Summary
At its Oct. 22 meeting the Town of Lyme Budget Committee reviewed proposed 2026 budgets. Transfer Station staff warned of higher Lebanon Landfill fees and parts costs, the Tax Collector proposed a new tax-software purchase, and the library reported nearly a year without an electricity bill after installing solar.
The Town of Lyme Budget Committee met Oct. 22, 2025, to review proposed 2026 department budgets and hear staff briefings on planned changes and cost pressures. Chair Richard Jones called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and the committee approved minutes from Oct. 15 after a motion by Bill Malcolm and a second from Phil Kinsler; the motion passed with five in favor and one abstention by Ms. Boylston.
Planning & Zoning Administrator David Robbins presented a largely unchanged Planning and Zoning budget but cited higher costs for updated planning maps and required regional planning dues. Robbins also said the zoning-board recorder line has been adjusted to cover a full schedule of 12 meetings for the coming year.
Transfer Station attendant Matt Thebodo told the committee that the 2026 draft budget reflects several significant increases: higher parts costs for compactor maintenance, raised expenses for employee training and certification, and a "large increase" in Lebanon Landfill fees. Thebodo and committee members discussed recycling operations and enhancing resident education about recycling as possible ways to limit future costs.
Tax Collector Marci O'Keefe said the largest change in her proposed budget is the one-time cost to install a new tax-software program; she also noted an increase in the postage line attributable to recent postal-rate changes.
The committee briefly reviewed the Conservation Commission budget, which remained generally the same as the prior year aside from modest increases in postage and the commission's education line.
Town Administrator Dina Cutting reviewed the executive budget and said overall figures are relatively steady. Cutting reported rising phone-line expenses and is negotiating with Consolidated Communications while exploring alternatives to control those costs; she also noted small increases in supply and postage lines.
Librarian Judith Russell presented the Converse Free Library budget, which maintains current staff and hours. Russell highlighted the library's recent solar project, noting the building has not received an electricity bill for eleven months after the system came online.
The meeting concluded at 8:30 p.m. after a motion to adjourn from Kristin Roth, seconded by Phil Kinsler; the motion passed unanimously. Jordan Gray filed the minutes.
