Belknap County reviews 2026 budget; commissioners to invite outside agencies to explain consequences of cuts

County staff presented the draft 2026 budget and told commissioners the proposal would equate to an approximate 7% increase in taxpayers’ bills compared with last year (last year's increase was about 5.6%). Commissioners said departmental request reductions total about $567,784; a formal percentage for that reduction was not provided at the meeting.

Commissioner Deborah said the board asked outside agencies to submit information about material consequences if funding is not restored. The board identified UNH Cooperative Extension and the Belknap County Conservation District as two agencies the commissioners wanted to hear from before finalizing the funding level. Commissioners also cited Lakes Region Mental Health, whose proposed funding was cut to $16,000 in the draft, and discussed including them in presentations. The board agreed to extend formal invitations and suggested presentations could be scheduled after the holidays, in January, so the delegation could consider restoration requests.

Members raised two administrative clarifications. First, key fobs requested in two different departments are not duplicative: one set funds door access in maintenance and the other funds multifactor authentication in the IT budget (used in areas such as the nursing home and corrections where cell phones are restricted). Second, CASA’s $7,500 appropriation was described as a two‑year, one‑off insertion by members of the delegation and the county has not sent payments because the vendor has not requested funds; payments are handled quarterly when requested.

Commissioners did not take a final bottom-line vote on the budget at the meeting; staff said a single motion will be preferred at the next meeting after outside agencies present. Commissioners requested the outside agencies explain, with specifics, the consequences of a 50% reduction in county funding where that was proposed.