Wilton-Lyndeborough voters approved the district’s operating budget and other warrant articles at the district meeting Saturday.
The $13 million budget represents an increase of 3.1% over the current budget, according to Budget Committee Chair Jeff Jones. He pointed out that with current economic volatility and inflation, costs for necessities such as food, energy and technology had been increased just to keep the district operating at the current level.
“I think we all kind of feel this right now,” he said. “That’s reflected in this budget.”
Another important consideration, Jones explained, was that much of this increase was in parts of the budget that are mandated by law for the district to provide, such as special education services.
“There’s not a lot of discretion that this body, the Budget Committee, can do to the budget,” he said.
Line items that Jones explained to voters in detail included $45,000 for a new facilities truck, as the facilities director had previously been using his own personal truck, something Jones said could cause potential liability and insurance issues down the line.
Additionally, he pointed to a $20,000 item to remove the district’s tennis courts, which were constructed in the 1980s and have fallen into disrepair, leading to unsafe conditions. Jones said fixing them would be much more expensive than to simply remove them, and that there were other avenues open to the tennis team to keep operating.
“These members here have worked really, really hard to try to keep the budgets down because they know that every time you reach into your wallets to pay for something, it’ll cost you more money,” said Moderator Walter Holland. “This has been a very difficult last couple of years.”
Some residents said the school should look into more funding opportunities, particularly from the state, to help offset costs.
“Operating this school in such a small community is becoming a burden,” said Wilton Town Treasurer D.J. Garcia, who is running for Select Board. He suggested both state funding and asking local business owners for help with boosting district revenues.
Budget Committee member Lisa Post said that while state funding might be helpful, it would likely have to come through sweeping changes that are unlikely to happen and would wrest away local control.
“Having local control gives all of us control in our votes,” she said. “We make the decisions here and everybody has the chance for input.”
Many residents thanked the Budget Committee and the School Board for their work on the budget and commended them for completing it.
“This is probably as good as we’re going to get,” said Wilton resident Bill Keith of the budget increases.
“This has not been an easy time. You have stood up and worked hard for our community, for our children, during just impossible circumstances,” said Sarah Spellman of Wilton.
The district’s two other warrant articles, both for capital reserve funds, were approved with little discussion. One called for $130,000 to be added to the district’s buildings and facilities capital reserve, while the other asked for $100,000 to be added to the special education fund.
The district will vote on their elected district officers on Tuesday, March 8, at Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative Middle High School from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for Wilton voters and at Citizens’ Hall in Lyndeborough from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for Lyndeborough voters.