[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6155178,"mediaKeyId","5480736-814922ef03702a9d303ff798cea3ef29","parentId",5480736,"title","Budget committee reviews draft rules and procedures, tables select-board voting clause and debates remote participation rules","audioSeconds",2910,"startMs",66000,"endMs",2976000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5480736-814922ef03702a9d303ff798cea3ef29&start=66&end=2976","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5480736-814922ef03702a9d303ff798cea3ef29/thumbnail_66000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6155178/New-Hampshire/Budget-committee-reviews-draft-rules-and-procedures-tables-select-board-voting-clause-and-debates-remote-participation-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6155178-2331dcd0ea17c664f27884a996fc1de5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770616646&Signature=QyeZR1GSduLalLcZlSvF5zZpsU8yUNb~iLq6wtr8XIllR2dnzYR8ncpy90unmXHWtQfkW5IqcO1MDSjgGD-HeUUIRb3trj~soAqa-F4AMt0~03YyYkIRDBlmtJxoWjDD-OkToNzo73LGSSjmB9~3hZxVjNQtlzLbDFZbOlUaO1gPTtVhME2YqYMT-wycA00ocSKscZD7CGHUGB0D5P4v2DRwQQw2gwlhhhlMvlWBgSi8jKb2Yoq5IYYntpRFwk27Vdf-xuk1kaDd9SZwNFnmQlnpLznGtwjA4ct2WuyF6qi~O5l6yf8iTK~xRBpED9D-EizMzl9Y231AoeRTrpfFqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-26T04:13:54.01Z","article","The Wolfeborough Budget Committee reviewed a draft set of rules and procedures on July 21, 2025, and voted to table a proposal to remove a sentence that would require a select‑board designee to vote according to the select board’s position rather than the designee’s personal preference.

Why it matters: The language defines how members who also serve as select‑board designees cast votes on budget committee matters. Committee members said the clause could restrict a designee who learns new information and wants to vote contrary to the select board’s previously stated position.

Committee discussion focused on several discrete sections of the draft. At the start of the meeting, a member proposed striking the sentence that says “the select board designee votes based on the select board’s position and not the designee’s personal preference.” The motion to strike was made by a committee member and later met a motion to table; the committee voted to table consideration of that sentence until a later meeting, meaning the sentence remains in the draft for now and will be reconsidered when more members are present.

Members also discussed how to announce vacancies. One member proposed adding town social media and replacing the specific name “Granite State News” with the RSA phrase “newspaper of general circulation” so the rule would not require revision if a particular paper ceased publication. The committee amended the language during discussion and ultimately tabled further action on the vacancies/notice language until the next meeting.

Remote participation and compliance with state open‑meetings law drew extended debate. Members proposed adding a sentence allowing the chairman at his or her discretion to authorize remote participation for a member who cannot be physically present; another member proposed explicitly tying remote meetings to the procedures in RSA 91‑A (New Hampshire Right‑to‑Know law). After discussion and an amendment that added the RSA citation, the committee voted to permit remote access when compliant with RSA 91‑A; the motion passed by roll call vote.

Committee members raised several procedural and clarifying edits, including:
- Scheduling and meeting dates: members proposed adjusting the window for scheduled budget‑presentation meetings and to explicitly allow joint agency presentation meetings with the select board at the select board’s discretion.
- Public hearings: members debated whether public hearings should be fixed at 7 p.m. or include alternative daytime options when needed; no final change was adopted at the meeting.
- Point of order: a motion to add a rule that “if a point of order is called on the chair, the vice chair shall rule” failed on a roll call vote; the committee retained the chair’s existing authority as drafted.
- Recording: members discussed adding an explicit requirement for audio recording when video recording is unavailable. A motion to require an audio recording in the event of video failure was discussed but did not pass.
- Email communications: committee members sought clarity to avoid violating RSA 91‑A. A proposal to rewrite the rule on email communications to state “in compliance with RSA 91‑A” was discussed and not adopted.

Several members reminded the committee that the draft was compiled from examples used by other municipalities and that any final amendments will be subject to the committee’s formal adoption process, which requires a motion at one meeting and a vote at the subsequent meeting under the draft’s Section 8 (amendments). Assistant Town Manager Leanne and Town Manager Jim said they would incorporate the committee’s edits and circulate a revised document ahead of the next meeting.

Committee actions taken (procedural): the committee tabled further action on the select‑board designee voting sentence and on vacancy‑posting/social‑media language; it approved language allowing remote participation consistent with RSA 91‑A; and it voted down the proposed vice‑chair point‑of‑order provision and an audio‑recording requirement.

What’s next: The draft remains under revision. The committee chair asked staff to produce a marked version showing the edits discussed, and several items (including the designee‑voting sentence and the social‑media language) will be brought back for a formal vote at the next regularly scheduled meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","21 July 2025 Wolfeboro Budget Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Wolfeborough Budget Committee reviewed a draft set of rules and procedures on July 21, 2025, and voted to table a proposal to remove a sentence that would require a select‑board designee to vote according to the select board’s position rather than the designee’s personal preference.","taxTitle","Wolfeboro Budget Committee, Wolfeboro, Carroll County, New Hampshire","taxId",68306,"location","New Hampshire","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6155170,"Budget committee seeks details on Pop Whalen ice rental and recreation revenue",738,5065000,5803000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5480736-814922ef03702a9d303ff798cea3ef29&start=5065&end=5803","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5480736-814922ef03702a9d303ff798cea3ef29/thumbnail_5065000.jpg","/articles/6155170/New-Hampshire/Budget-committee-seeks-details-on-Pop-Whalen-ice-rental-and-recreation-revenue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6155170-5f71cf3403337e6110ae384e72496a8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770616646&Signature=fA9eaSF1utTsLHak6gQxw5r6UMeJAF~cANUhG-iAmZ74Ix0vlbGhOzFkkXe93U65NwQ67i-~iayATZscTV35IUz1HpYo-m4Vwt-0XNjo9BMOPVrF7FgSp8MDxiiCSMaxdS91SPZ9n~c~yNWurazgScGzO6OyGT4M8112I38MqIcPb3xqvjkXKMkYT3Mq5Zi8N6CD4PxcdecSiQb8a0Ye~y39DdecL47W1BrE5y6~8JGwcce3eHaEPMCD0QgXPlnZp7bLiLhn-8eXVCBPsdAUoLddEYXAPW0dUJKIK2e-rd~hEE9SP8NDxuDAMl7MF9gVfLJXedRFB7v1bfHNGAWTFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Wolfeborough Budget Committee on July 21 asked town staff for a clearer accounting of the town’s payments for ice rental at Pop Whalen and how much revenue the recreation department collects to offset that cost.

Why it matters: The committee noted the town has paid $50,224 so far and plans another $50,000 payment; members want to know how much of that contracted ice time is used for town programs, how much is covered by program revenues and which concessions or enterprise receipts apply. Understanding the revenue side is important for assessing whether the enterprise and recreation budgets are balanced or require additional support from the general fund.

A committee member requested a breakdown of the additional costs of bringing the ice in earlier in the season — specifically estimated incremental energy (electric) costs and staffing differences versus anticipated program revenue. Town staff said such a spreadsheet exists and that they would forward it to the committee and post it on the town web page. Town Manager Jim confirmed the data are maintained by recreation staff and agreed to circulate the report to members.

Committee members asked whether concession revenue and program fees are captured in the enterprise fund or the recreation budget. Staff clarified that concession revenue and enterprise‑fund receipts are accounted for in Pop Whalen’s enterprise fund; programming revenue is handled through the recreation accounts. One member asked staff to provide monthly utilization and revenue reports that show public‑skate, stick‑and‑puck and program rentals so the committee can compare rental payments to actual usage.

What’s next: Town staff (recreation and finance) will provide the committee with the requested spreadsheet and utilization breakouts. The committee asked for documentation showing the breakdown of the $100,000 annual payment and the revenues and expenses tied to the rink’s operation.","Committee members questioned how the town’s payments for ice rental at Pop Whalen relate to recreation revenue and asked staff for a detailed breakdown of revenue, energy and staffing offsets.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6155173,"Town manager outlines preliminary 2026 budget: general fund up 8.3% driven by wages, new fire‑department ambulance staffing and higher contract estimates",113,4407000,4520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5480736-814922ef03702a9d303ff798cea3ef29&start=4407&end=4520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5480736-814922ef03702a9d303ff798cea3ef29/thumbnail_4407000.jpg","/articles/6155173/New-Hampshire/Town-manager-outlines-preliminary-2026-budget-general-fund-up-83-driven-by-wages-new-firedepartment-ambulance-staffing-and-higher-contract-estimates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6155173-676c202a994b6f3390664dd0f5c3ddaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770616646&Signature=A8kSVRDlLlX7avU8Bh7ocG8y7PNKZOSrW8gGYpfkex6J4st~QU0UUtBLNQscJH3L03FpvzuSJrWo9LxRiEgZ6usUOBC68bEtmBVj6qczpEDWEUcIpLXw0OwBdCP-5-SS9EMfMbf8HP9H-hFOCOyfJOlYQyNw-Xzz9qAjbpGty6AX8WYZTpeycSQm7ZRIB2eqYmSHV3DcJkaCe3VN7SqwKQ6EBIS5IykR9fDiZkDvB17X0SOEBk-LxQc8il9YH137wIlvkVjVbekmlF0ZICxbzawMIm8TnKAgIpyy8CUySJOE2BjCv7okQGtimic34qN7g5DTuOASGwAncOkpwVy-XA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Manager Jim presented preliminary budget guidance to the Wolfeborough Budget Committee on July 21, 2025, saying the general fund faces an estimated 8.3% increase for 2026, or roughly $1.58 million, driven primarily by wage and personnel costs and an anticipated rise in ambulance contract costs.

Why it matters: The committee will begin formal review this fall. The projected increases drive the town’s planning for warrant articles, staffing and service contracts and affect how the default budget will be framed if voters do not approve warrant articles.

Jim summarized major drivers during the meeting: “Right now, the general fund alone, we’re looking at an 8.3% increase, which is a total of $1,584,000,” he said. He attributed much of the increase to two categories: wages/benefits and the fire/EMS changes the town approved last year. Jim told the committee the 100‑series (wages) increase is estimated at about $671,811 (roughly 10.2%), and the 200‑series (benefits, including health insurance) carries a placeholder increase driven by health‑care assumptions. Jim identified two specific cost items the committee should expect:

- Collective bargaining and wage adjustments: The town has two recently approved collective bargaining agreements included in the numbers; those agreements add about $176,000 to wages for 2026. Town staff also expect supervisory and non‑union adjustments when the budget is prepared.
- Fire department ambulance staffing and contract costs: The town hired four positions in the fire department to support ambulance service. Those positions are included in the projected $326,000 increase tied to the new staffing. Separately, the ambulance contract (Stewart’s) is estimated at about $808,000 for 2026 — a rise from the prior budgeted $270,000 — but staff said that estimate could change if the town’s own ambulance backup comes on line.

On the ambulance contract specifically, Jim said the town’s goal is to have department personnel operational to provide backup ambulance service by Jan. 1, 2026, and that doing so could reduce the contract cost paid to the private vendor. He told the committee the assistant chief of EMS would begin in August and that the department will evaluate timing and licensing requirements before any contractual savings can be confirmed.

Other budget drivers Jim highlighted included:
- Health insurance: a placeholder (the final figure depends on insurer rates expected in November).
- Solid waste hauling: bids are outstanding and could increase the 300 series.
- Propane for the Public Safety Building: an estimated $45,000 increase is included.
- Debt service: the 900 series (bond/debt service) is projected to fall by about $232,000 in 2026.

Jim also summarized timing: department budgets are due the last week of August; departments and staff will review them in September; select‑board review is planned for October; and the budget committee’s review begins in November.

Committee members pressed staff for clarifications. One member asked whether the full $808,000 ambulance estimate could be reduced if the town’s new ambulance backup becomes operational; Jim said that is possible but would depend on the EMS leadership’s work after August 4 and on licensing and operational readiness. Finance staff (Sam) also noted that some multi‑department “common” costs (telephone, insurance) have been consolidated into centralized lines in recent years, which affects how five‑year expenditure trends appear and may require supplemental spreadsheets to show historical details by department.

What’s next: Town staff will finalize department submissions in August and circulate the formal budget workbooks. The committee will receive detailed worksheets in September and begin public presentations of department budgets in October and November, ahead of the public hearing and final recommendations.","Town Manager Jim presented preliminary 2026 budget guidelines to the budget committee on July 21, 2025, projecting an 8.3% increase in the general fund driven by wage increases, four new fire department positions for ambulance service, health‑care placeholders and a projected rise in the ambulance contract.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Budget committee reviews draft rules and procedures, tables select-board voting clause and debates remote participation rules

Budget committee seeks details on Pop Whalen ice rental and recreation revenue

Town manager outlines preliminary 2026 budget: general fund up 8.3% driven by wages, new fire‑department ambulance staffing and higher contract estimates