The budget for Lyndeborough is anticipated to be $2.5 million, about a $95,000 increase, or 4 percent, from the current budget.
The biggest areas of increase were in personnel, the police department and highway administration and streets and highways.
Two other factors could influence the tax burden for Lyndeborough residents in the coming year – the amount of warrant article requests, which is down significantly, and the amount of revenue the town anticipates, which is also down significantly.
Discounting the budget, if voters approve all warrant requests in March, the total amount would be $139,750. That compares to $267,000 in warrant article requests for the current budget year, a $127,250 difference. However, this year, the town expects about $26,000 less in state revenues, as well as using about $100,000 less in the town’s fund balance to reduce town taxes.
The vast majority of articles remaining on the warrant are related to the town’s capital reserve funds, which save up funding for large purchases over multiple years. Requests include $10,000 for the fire department equipment reserve, $15,000 for the 2022 one-ton highway truck reserve, $11,000 for the 2016 mid-size dump truck reserve, $16,000 for the loader reserve, $21,000 for the 2018 dump truck reserve, $22,500 for the 2008 backhoe reserve and $18,000 for the 2020 dump truck reserve.
Each reserve request is a separate article that requires a majority vote to pass.
The town is also asking for a portion of the cost to replace a town police vehicle, requesting $10,250 toward defraying the total cost of replacing the 2018 Ford used by the Police Department. The funds will not lapse until December 2024, which allows the town to request the second half of the funding next year to replace the vehicle.
The Select Board has also put forth two articles addressing town infrastructure. One article requests $10,000 for the infrastructure repair and replacement capital reserve. A separate article requests $6,000 to conduct an engineering study of the stone arch bridge on Temple Road. The study was recommended by the Heritage Commission, and the funds would be held over until the end of 2025, or until the study is complete.
Two articles would change the purpose of capital reserve funds, which were created for the purpose of repairing or replacing specific vehicles. Among the proposed changes is switching the 1994 pumper reserve to the 1997 pumper reserve, and the backhoe/loader reserve to the loader reserve. Both votes require a two-thirds majority to pass.
Residents have the opportunity to vote on warrant articles on March 18 at Citizens’ Hall at 10 a.m. during Town Meeting. Ballot voting is March 14 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Citizens’ Hall.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.