Milford’s 2025 deliberative session ended after the assembly debated and finalized language for a slate of warrant articles that will appear on the March ballot. The Board of Selectmen directed the town clerk to place each article on the ballot; most were included as originally written, and several drew amendments during discussion.

Why it matters: The articles include the town operating budget and numerous department and capital requests that together shape the town’s services and tax impact for the year ahead. Voters will decide the final appropriations and policy measures at the March election.

What happened: Select Board members, town staff, the budget advisory committee and residents reviewed and debated 20 warrant articles. The moderator explained the two‑step process (deliberative session followed by the town election). The meeting advanced each article to the ballot; where the assembly adopted amendments, the clerk was instructed to publish the amended language.

Votes at a glance (actions taken at the deliberative session)
- Article 3 — Wadley Memorial Library lower‑level restrooms ($250,000 bond): Amended during the meeting to change the wording “new restrooms” to specify “2 restrooms.” Motion to amend passed; article placed on ballot as amended.
- Article 4 — Town operating budget ($19,300,099 proposed): Presented and debated; selectmen and budget committee statements entered into the record; article was placed on the ballot as originally worded.
- Article 5 — Wastewater operating budget ($2,856,974): Placed on ballot as originally worded.
- Article 6 — Water operating budget ($2,429,662): Placed on ballot as originally worded.
- Article 7 — Milford Swing Bridge rehabilitation ($634,070): Placed on ballot as originally worded; presenters said state would fund $507,256 with a town match of $126,814.
- Article 8 — DPW 58,000‑GVW dump truck lease purchase ($352,260 authorization; $70,452 first‑year payment): Placed on ballot as originally worded.
- Article 9 — Town roads reconstruction ($300,000): Placed on ballot as originally worded after discussion about prioritized streets and coordination with underground work.
- Article 10 — Fire department: six‑month funding for new full‑time firefighters ($277,195 appropriation for 6 months): The assembly amended the article’s language to clarify the appropriation “is for 6 months and includes wages, benefits, and other costs associated with enabling this new staffing model,” and recorded an approximate annual full‑year cost ($555,399) in the new sentence. The amendment passed; article placed on ballot as amended.
- Article 11 — Ambulance replacement revolving fund (RSA 31:95‑h): Placed on ballot as originally worded; discussion focused on whether to move ambulance transport revenue into a revolving fund versus the existing capital reserve account and the legal authority for expenditure (selectmen as governing body under RSA 31:95‑h).
- Article 12 — McLean and Goldman dams alternatives feasibility study (CWSRF loan with partial forgiveness): Placed on ballot as originally worded; the meeting included discussion of the study’s scope, state loan/forgiveness mechanics, and concerns about downstream implications and historical value.
- Article 13 — Keys Park expansion capital reserve (add $60,000): Placed on ballot as originally worded; the Select Board and petitioners discussed whether tennis‑court repairs and pool repairs should be funded from the same account.
- Article 22 — Keys Pool repairs (petition, $89,000): Petition language was simplified during the meeting to read as a maintenance and safety appropriation; amended wording passed and the article was placed on the ballot as amended.
- Article 23 — Petition to support repair/resurfacing of the Malcolm Ellingwood Rotch tennis courts: Petition language was amended on the floor to an advisory statement encouraging cooperation between town and school; the amendment passed. (Because the petitioner indicated support for Article 13’s capital reserve solution, the petitionary language was revised to be advisory.)
- Articles 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 (social services; police comms equipment; non‑emergency transportation; I.T. infrastructure capital reserve; conservation land fund; veterans and Labor Day parades; summer band concerts; Labor Day parade): All were included on the ballot as originally worded after brief presentations and budget committee remarks.

How the meeting handled changes: Where amendments were adopted at the deliberative session (notably articles 3, 10, 22 and 23), the moderator instructed the clerk to publish the amended language for the ballot. Several items drew extended public comment (roads, fire staffing, ambulance funding, dams) but the assembly deferred final appropriation decisions to the voters on March’s ballot.

What remains next: Voters will decide each warrant article on Election Day (March 11 was referenced as the polling date). The deliberative session recorded the selectmen’s majority and minority positions and the budget advisory committee recommendations, which will appear in the voter guide.