Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hope financial report: midyear taxes on track but roads spending high
Summary
At midyear (Oct–Dec 2025) Hope reports property tax collections at 54.30% and automobile excise at 56.21%; road spending is at 82.06% of its line and staff will meet with the Road Commissioner to review budget and planned work.
Shani Dennison presented the town's FY26 second-quarter report for Oct. 2025–Dec. 2025, reporting that property tax collections stood at 54.30% and automobile excise collections at 56.21% as of Dec. 31, 2025.
Shani detailed department expenditures: Administration 32.49% spent, Public Safety 24.18%, animal control 71.49% (attributed to paying the Paws shelter cost in a lump sum), and the Roads line at 82.06% spent. Shani and Samantha Mank were scheduled to meet with the Road Commissioner to review road work plans and budget; the minutes note roads are permitted an overage of up to 15% of the department overall before a special town meeting is required.
Board members asked for monitoring of school-related expenditures because the town may be subsidizing Hope Elementary School until anticipated grant revenues and the second half of tax collections arrive. The Bookkeeper and Town Administrator will meet with the central office business manager to avoid drawing down the town's checking account.
