Jaffrey voters approved the entirety of the warrant unamended during Saturday’s Town Meeting, including funding for two upcoming major water projects.

The meeting kicked off with back-to-back ballot votes for bond issues, both related to the town’s water infrastructure. The first was a $1.6 million to construct and install a water treatment building at the town’s 104 Turnpike Road well. The town had already approved the project in 2023 to build the building in order to remove manganese and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the water and bring the well back into working order after it had been removed from service.

At the time, the anticipated cost of the project was $10 million, with almost the entire project covered by grants or principal loan forgiveness from the Department of Environmental Services, and about $37,132 coming from Jaffrey’s water fund. After the project was put out to bid, it was determined to be over the projected budget by about the $1.6 million sought this year. The town has put in a loan application to DES to cover the total amount of the $1.6 supplemental funding.

Voters approved the project in a 120-5 ballot vote.

Similarly, a request to purchase a vacuum truck to aid in inventory of all town water lines, in order to comply with a mandate from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to inventory the materials of its service lines, was also strongly supported by a ballot vote, with only a single no vote to 122 yes votes.

The town anticipates taking a loan from the Department of Environmental Services for the truck, and receiving a 70% principal forgiveness, leaving the town responsible for $127,500 of the $425,000 truck. The funds would come from the water fund.

Selectman Andy Lawn explained purchasing the truck would be much cheaper than contracting the work to an outside entity – an estimated cost of $2.1 million – and that the town would retain the truck after the line survey was complete for use in regular maintenance of cleaning drains and ditches.

“It needs to happen. We all know what happened in Detroit,” Lawn said, referencing lead connecting lines. “We don’t need that in Jaffrey. We probably won’t find lead, but we probably will find copper, and we don’t want that, either.”

Residents also approved the operating budget for the water and sewer systems for the coming year, with $1.3 million for the Water Department and $2.3 million for the Sewer Department.

All other articles were approved by voice vote, often unanimously, with some questions from the audience, but no offered amendments.

The town approved the operating budget, set this year at $7.6 million, which is an increase of about $333,295, or 4.57%. When taking into account the entirety of money to be raised, including warrant articles and the water and sewer budget, the town is anticipating total appropriations slightly less than last year, but is also anticipating less revenue. The budget and warrant articles together represent about a 7% increase in taxes to be raised, or a 74-cent increase per $1,000 assessed valuation.

Voters approved the budget, as well as multiple articles seeking funds for capital reserve and expendable trust accounts.

Also approved was a collective bargaining agreement between the town and the Department of Public Works for a three-year contract. The contract includes a 4% cost-of-living wage adjustment, and an increase in call pay for water service. The estimated increases are $38,088 for the coming year, $22,135 for 2026 and $26,280 for 2027.

Support was shown for an increase in the ambulance budget, both in the approval of the operating budget and a separate warrant article, which together represented a significant increase in the budget for the contracted Jaffrey-Rindge Memorial Ambulance.

This year, JRMA requested $125,000 from both Rindge and Jaffrey for services, which is an increase of $78,500 for Jaffrey from last year. The town included $85,000 of the request in the operating budget, and the remaining $40,000 in a separate warrant article to create a new expendable trust for the ambulance.

Budget Committee Chair Norman Langevin explained that the town had explored other options, including contracting with the Peterborough Fire and Rescue and the county ambulance services, but both would have been at least $300,000 to $500,000, and have longer response times.

“The alternatives are worse,” Langevin said.

Residents approved the trust fund and additional expense in a voice vote.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.