Hearing on Meredith proposed budget set for Feb. 9

MEREDITH — The selectboard voted unanimously to set a public hearing for Monday, Feb. 9, about the proposed 2026 budget, which shows a 5.5% increase over last year and will be voted on at Town Meeting in March.

The board wanted to have the budget finalized, with a public hearing set, by the new year. The board voted 5-0 on Monday to set the hearing date. During the budget hearing, members of the public will ask questions and share any concerns.

The 2026 budget request is for $23.4 million, $100,000 lower than the 2026 budget requested by department heads. During the previous meeting, Town Manager Judie Milner said the reduction was due to removing $40,000 for an ordinance update project; $27,000 for a carpet project and cruiser computer replacements; $25,000 for a columbarium project for the cemetery; and $8,000 for the Meredith News Digital Conversion at the library.

Budget discussions have been going since October within town departments, as well as with the selectboard. On Nov. 10, they discussed wages and benefits, which totals nearly half the budget, at 48%. Wages alone represent 39% of the budget, with another 9% for benefits.

There was a proposed wage increase of $220,617 over 2025, with a 3.2% cost of living adjustment included. Benefits increased about 5%, or $101,273.

Part of the proposed budget includes restructuring some positions, like eliminating two office clerk and part-time roles, while adding a planner and administrative assistant, and changing the director of human resources to a deputy town manager role. It also calls for adding an additional deputy town manager. This comes with a net impact of $82,000 to the budget, including benefits.

The budget also includes a salary study, at a cost of $25,000, to update job descriptions as well as pay ranges.

Other large allocations in the budget include $300,000 for roads, $298,000 for capital items, and $81,145 for property liability and workers compensation insurance.

Also included in the proposed budget is $20,000 designated for knotweed removal; $15,000 for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration; and $75,000 for a consultant. Milner said a consultant could be paid up to that amount, and the cost may be lower.

The board briefly discussed the budget during the meeting on Dec. 22. Selectboard member Jeanie Forrester asked Milner to clarify the projected revenues for 2026, which are $7.3 million, as well as actual revenue for 2025, which is $7.4 million. Milner pointed out the 2025 total included a grant of about $740,000.

“So, if you back that out, you’d be apples to apples between the two budgets,” Milner said.

Forrester then asked if an analysis trend study has ever been done about projected versus actual revenues, and Finance Director Robert Carpenter said it had been done two years ago. Milner said that was something that could happen again, finding data going back five years.

Selectboard member Lynn Leighton asked about the COLA, set at 3.2%, because in earlier discussions, there was the potential to use a 3.4% figure through Northeast CPI. Milner said it was about $14,000 of savings using 3.2%.

Chair Mike Pelczar noted with the union contract, it is 3% across the board, but Forrester said whatever the town gives employees, union workers will be matched.

The budget hearing will take place during the selectboard meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, at the Meredith Community Center.