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Board adds 'up to' language for EMS transport funding amid contract uncertainty
Summary
Select Board agreed to recommend $301,097 and add 'up to' language for an EMS transport line item to avoid locking in higher taxes if interlocal contracts with surrounding towns are not finalized before the tax rate is set.
Chief Jesse Peters told the Select Board that $10,000 had been added into the Public Safety budget related to EMS transport discussions. Because town-to-town EMS transport contract terms remain unsettled, Chair Jon Morris proposed amending the warrant recommendation and adding "up to" language to avoid taxing at a higher amount if partner towns later agree to a lower cost.
"If we say up to 301,097.00, we can reduce it at that point and we would be committing less to the taxes as a result," Planning/board participant Bo Chesney said during discussion. The board agreed this approach preserves flexibility: if contracts are signed before the tax-rate setting, the actual amount can be reduced; if not, the town retains the authorization to use up to the specified amount.
The Town Administrator noted the board has two procedural options: amend the article on the floor at Town Meeting if final numbers are known, or include "up to" language in the warrant so taxes need not reflect a worst-case estimate. The board recommended $301,097 with the "up to" qualifier to allow adjustments later based on finalized contracts.
Next steps: The Select Board will include the "up to" language in the warrant and may adjust the final amount if contracts are finalized before tax-rate certification.
