New Ipswich has finalized its proposed budget of nearly $3.2 million, a 10.8 percent increase from the current approved budget.
The default budget has not yet been finalized, but Town Administrator Debbie Deaton said it would not be lower than the current budget of $2.88 million.
During the Select Board meeting on Tuesday, board members did a final review of the budget and warrant articles, making a few last-minute changes ahead of the town’s public hearing on the budget, scheduled for next Tuesday.
Fire Chief Meredith Lund also requested increases to requests for two of the department’s existing capital reserve accounts, specifically the equipment reserve from $50,000 to $75,000 and the account for fire protection equipment from $20,000 to $30,000.
Deaton explained the reason for the requested increase is rising costs of fire equipment and engines.
The board discussed whether or not to make those requested changes, but ultimately decided to leave it to the voters during the town’s upcoming deliberative session in February. During deliberative session, residents can propose and vote on amendments to articles.
Board Chair Sean Talbot suggested that Lund could explain the justification for the increase and leave it to the voters in attendance to decide whether or not to put the increased numbers on the ballot.
The board did agree to add a new warrant article related to the fire department Tuesday – a request to establish a new capital reserve. Specifically, the reserve would accumulate funds for the replacement of communications equipment such as radios. The fund is proposed to be established with $10,000 to start.
The article joins two others requesting the establishment of new funds for the town. The articles would create revolving funds for the town’s Heritage Commission and transfer station. Revolving funds allow revenue from a specific department to be accrued in a fund, kept separate from the general fund and allowed to grow from year to year and spent on items within that department.
While the board agreed to move forward with both those warrant articles, they did reduce the amount asked for to seed them. Both articles are now anticipated to appear before voters asking for $5,000 each.
Board member Jason Somero said the town had to be judicious in its requests this year, saying that the town was “piling on a lot” and that it was “starting to get overwhelming.”
Rather than eliminate the revolving fund requests entirely, the board agreed to reduce the amounts requested, to allow the funds to still be established. Talbot noted that the town was trying to find ways to address longstanding issues that have languished without funding as the town has tried to keep costs down.
“It does seem a lot, but we’re trying to move from reacting to things, to planning for things. We still need to start thinking forward and get out of this reactionary mode,” Talbot said. He noted that despite the nearly 11 percent increase in the budget, most of the increased expenses were due to inflationary increases or costs outside of the town’s control, such as fuel and electricity costs.
The public hearing for the proposed budget is scheduled to be held on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at the town offices. The town’s deliberative session is scheduled on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Mascenic High School auditorium.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.