The proposed budget for New Ipswich is $4.02 million, an overall increase of about $400,000, or 11%.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Finance Advisory Committee Chair Joe Woodworth laid out most of the largest increases from the previous year’s budget, most of which related either to salaries or a rise in insurance costs.
Some of the salary increases are attributed to the way unfilled positions were budgeted in the 2025 budget. Some positions were only funded for a portion of the year in the 2025 budget in anticipation that they would not be filled immediately. Those positions, now filled, have been budgeted for a full year’s worth of salary and benefits.
The increase also reflects a 2.8% cost-of-living wage increase for hourly employees.
“About two-thirds of our increase relates to benefits or wages,” Woodworth said.
The default budget, should the proposed budget fail, is set this year at $3.9 million.
The increases include a new full-time position of fire captain/building inspector, approved at Town Meeting in March, which added just under $52,000 to the budget. The town also expects more than a $33,000 increase from the previous year’s cost for fire and mutual aid dispatch, a regional service.
Attendance at Tuesday’s hearing was small, with about a dozen members of the public in the audience, but several spoke about the growing pressures of property taxes.
“Thirteen percent of our population is over 65,” said resident Becky Doyle. “They’re working off of a 2.8% increase in the Social Security benefit to survive.”
Another resident said they moved into town in 2019, and at the current rate the budget is rising, their property tax will have doubled within the next three years, from where it was when they moved to town.
Select Board Chair Jason Somero said he was well aware of the impacts. “This is like, how long can I afford this? And I’m talking personally, and as a chairman,” he said.
Somero said that some of those increases were just the natural outcome of inflating costs.
“Which household in town hasn’t experienced that, at the grocery store, and with the electric bill?” said Somero. “The town doesn’t have a magic way of avoiding that.”
“That’s exactly the point,” said Doyle. “We’re getting a 2.8% increase and paying double the taxes.”
Resident Brian Somero criticized the use of capital reserve funds, which act as savings accounts for specific purposes for the town. Voters can approve additions to the accounts over several years to spread out the cost of major purchases, such as vehicles for the fire department or the department of public works. Brian Somero said they can act as a “wish list” for departments.
Jason Somero responded that, in his experience, the funds worked as intended, supplying funds when there is a need, not a want.
“And that’s what my experience has been,” he said.
The board did make some minor adjustments to the budget during the hearing, including adding costs for propane and a training budget for the Board of Assessors that had not been added into the proposed budget. The changes resulted in an additional $2,600 to the budget and the default budget.
Residents will have the opportunity to hear and offer amendments to the budget and warrant articles during the town’s deliberative session, scheduled for Feb. 3 at 7 p.m., at Mascenic Regional High School.