Belmont voters at odds with town leadership over budget

BELMONT — Residents voted in town elections and for articles on the warrant at Belmont High School on Tuesday, with the town budget at top of mind.

As of roughly 4 p.m., over 500 people had voted, with Moderator Alvin Nix Jr. expecting up to 900 votes with the after-work rush, about average for voter turnout in town elections. Last year, the proposed budget failed to pass with a majority vote, causing the town to adopt a default budget based on the previous year. While town administrators have been pushing people to vote for the proposed budget this year, many showed up to do the opposite. Kevin Chown said he opposed the budget, citing a tax increase as his concern.

“I came here to vote,” Chown said. “It might be the only thing I do all day.”

John Morrison also voted against the budget, worrying about his tax bill, calling it the “extortion bill.”

“We can’t afford this extra foolishness,” he said.

Selectboard member Jon Pike has been on the selectboard for 18 years and ran for reelection against Thomas Murphy and Doug Trottier, a Republican Statehouse representative. Election results were not available by press time.

Pike is in favor of the proposed budget. He believes the selectboard as well as budget committee put in due diligence to craft a good budget for the town.

“It's not just five selectmen looking at it, it's the budget committee then goes over it,” he said. “We work pretty hard, and we always have.”

Other voters' concerns about the current budget had to do with increased taxes. Increased taxes are often associated with increased town spending, which is to be expected with the $11.4 million budget, about 10% higher than the previous year. The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration sets the tax rate each year based on each town’s property assessment. Because property values have gone up, the tax rate has gone down, from $29.25 in 2018, to $15.74 in 2024. Based on property value increases, the tax rate does not necessarily represent a decrease in taxes.

Pike acknowledged residents' concerns regarding increased taxes, but said there are other factors that contribute to a higher cost-of-living, more so than the budget.

“Prices, as we know, are going up every year. The cost of fuel, the cost of propane, the cost of durable goods, cost of equipment,” he said. “And we have union contracts that are three years at a time, and they've been approved.”

Susan Roache ran for both treasurer and a seat on the budget committee. Roache ran against incumbent Rachel French and Brian Gardiner for budget committee, with two seats available, and against 10-year-incumbent Treasurer Alicia Segalini. She disagreed with Pike about the budget committee, saying she watched every budget meeting last year, and some committee members did nothing to scrutinize the budget.

“The whole budget committee just rub a stamp on whatever the selectmen put on there,” she said. “They did not ask questions.”

Roache is hoping to create change in town if elected to either position. As treasurer, a procedural role, she would aim to question the status quo. She said she would sign approved checks, and also intends to question the expenditures.

“If I got on there for treasurer, I would not just sign away the town's money on a check that I didn't know what I was signing for. I want to see the backup to that paperwork,” Roache said.

This year is the first year Segalini has run opposed in her decade in the position. She said the position of treasurer has been traditionally uncontroversial, as it's not a policy-making position.

“What she says is that we need change, but this position is not for change,” Segalini said.

Roache also advocated for a fresh slate in town administration. She believes current position-holders are too comfortable, and not listening to townspeople.

“Change to me meant change in leadership, new people in the positions,” she said. “New blood, new ideas, not the same old, stagnant stuff.”

Donna Cilley was standing outside Belmont High School campaigning for Pike on Tuesday. She has worked with welfare and general assistance for the town for 31 years, and lived in the town for 40. She agreed new blood is good, but at a time where she believes the town needs to pass the budget, she is trusting in those with experience to direct the town forward.

“It was a benefit to have the longevity of individuals who have worked as hard as they have on the board, and trying to keep some sustainability, until we can work ourselves out of this default mode,” she said.

Whether the budget passed will ultimately be the tell-tale sign of where the people’s priorities lie.

“I think the budget is going to tell the story, because people are very upset they have raised our taxes for years,” Roache said. “And we are a lot of senior citizens who can't afford these increases in our cost of living.”