Peterborough Town Meeting 2025: Articles 4-18 Detailed Overview

The Annual Town Meeting in Peterborough, New Hampshire, is scheduled for May 13, 2025, at the Town House Upper Hall (1 Grove Street, Peterborough, NH 03458). Articles 4 through 18 of the FY 2026 Town Meeting Warrant address specific appropriations, fund management, and policy changes. This post provides a factual overview of each article, including financial details from the MS-636 Proposed Budget, to inform residents about the proposals under consideration.

Article 4: Pay-As-You-Throw Special Revenue Fund – $113,672

Article 4 proposes appropriating $113,672 for the Pay-As-You-Throw program, which charges residents for waste disposal to encourage reduction. The funds come from the program’s Special Revenue Fund, with no additional taxation. The MS-636 breaks this down as $30,000 for Solid Waste Collection and $83,672 for Solid Waste Disposal, covering costs like bag fees and processing. The Select Board voted 3-0 and the Budget Committee voted 8-0 to recommend this appropriation.

Financial Context: The FY 2026 Sanitation budget is $431,073, down from $527,805 in FY 2025 (MS-636), reflecting reduced disposal costs. Estimated revenue from Garbage-Refuse Charges is $89,100 (MS-636).

Article 5: Police Department Fleet Management Capital Reserve Fund – $125,000

Article 5 proposes allocating $125,000 to the Police Department Fleet Management Capital Reserve Fund, as listed in the MS-636 under “To Capital Reserve Funds” for “police crf.” The funds are intended for future vehicle purchases or maintenance. The Select Board (3-0) and Budget Committee (8-0) recommend this appropriation.

Financial Context: The Police Department budget for FY 2026 is $2,722,996, an increase from $2,537,492 in FY 2025 (MS-636). Public Safety appropriations total $5,840,117 (MS-636).

Article 6: Fleet Management Capital Reserve Fund – $300,000

Article 6 proposes $300,000 for the general Fleet Management Capital Reserve Fund, labeled “dpw fleet crf” in the MS-636, likely for Department of Public Works vehicles. The funds are for future vehicle replacements or upgrades. The Select Board (3-0) and Budget Committee (8-0) recommend this appropriation.

Financial Context: The Highways and Streets budget for FY 2026 is $2,214,692, down from $2,255,057 in FY 2025 (MS-636), covering road maintenance and related expenses.

Article 7: Roadway System Upgrades Capital Reserve Fund – $400,000

Article 7 proposes appropriating $400,000 to the Roadway System Upgrades Capital Reserve Fund, noted as “roadway crf” in the MS-636. The funds are designated for future road improvement projects, such as paving. The Select Board (3-0) and Budget Committee (8-0) recommend this appropriation.

Financial Context: The FY 2026 budget allocates $1,108,056 for “Other Highway, Streets, and Bridges” (MS-636), supporting ongoing infrastructure needs.

Article 8: Bridges, Culverts, and Dams Expendable Trust Fund – $400,000

Article 8 proposes allocating $400,000 to the Bridges, Culverts, and Dams Expendable Trust Fund, listed as “bridge culvert dam crf” in the MS-636. The funds are for maintenance and repairs of these structures. The Select Board (3-0) and Budget Committee (8-0) recommend this appropriation.

Financial Context: This fund complements the $2,214,692 Highways and Streets budget (MS-636). No direct expenditures for bridges are listed in the operating budget (MS-636).

Article 9: Adams Pool Improvement Capital Reserve Fund – $35,000

Article 9 proposes $35,000 for the Adams Pool Improvement Capital Reserve Fund, labeled “pool crf” in the MS-636. The funds are for future upgrades to the pool facility. The Select Board (3-0) and Budget Committee (8-0) recommend this appropriation.

Financial Context: The Parks and Recreation budget for FY 2026 is $623,487, up from $592,729 in FY 2025 (MS-636). Culture and Recreation totals $1,399,530 (MS-636).

Article 10: Ambulance Service Revolving Fund – $375,000

Article 10 proposes appropriating $375,000 to the Ambulance Service Revolving Fund, as noted in the MS-636 under “To Revolving Funds.” The funds support emergency medical services, covering costs like equipment and staffing. The Select Board (3-0) and Budget Committee (8-0) recommend this appropriation.

Financial Context: The Ambulance budget for FY 2026 is $2,251,987, down from $2,289,447 in FY 2025 (MS-636). Public Safety appropriations total $5,840,117 (MS-636).

Article 11: West Peterborough District Expendable Trust Fund – $1,227,194.34

Article 11 proposes allocating $1,227,194.34 from West Peterborough Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District taxes to its Expendable Trust Fund, as per the MS-636. No additional taxation is required. The funds are for district-specific projects, such as infrastructure improvements. The Select Board (3-0) and Budget Committee (8-0) recommend this appropriation.

Financial Context: The MS-636 lists $2,923,842 in Interfund Operating Transfers from TIF districts (including Articles 11-13), reflecting significant revenue for district projects.

Article 12: Greater Downtown District Expendable Trust Fund – $700,943

Article 12 proposes appropriating $700,943 from Greater Downtown TIF District taxes to its Expendable Trust Fund, per the MS-636, with no additional taxes. The funds are for downtown projects, such as streetscaping. The Select Board (3-0) and Budget Committee (8-0) recommend this appropriation.

Financial Context: Combined with Articles 11 and 13, TIF district transfers total $2,923,842 (MS-636), supporting targeted development without impacting the general tax base.

Article 13: South Peterborough District Expendable Trust Fund – $829,560

Article 13 proposes $829,560 from South Peterborough TIF District taxes to its Expendable Trust Fund, as noted in the MS-636, with no additional taxes. The funds are for projects in South Peterborough. The Select Board (3-0) and Budget Committee (8-0) recommend this appropriation.

Financial Context: TIF district revenues contribute significantly to the $11,364,181 in total estimated revenues for FY 2026 (MS-636), reducing the tax burden.

Article 14: Discontinue Funds

Article 14 proposes discontinuing six funds with zero balances, transferring any accumulated interest to the general fund:

• Fire and Ambulance Expendable Trust Fund (est. 1973)
• Sewer Department Capital Reserve Fund (est. 1972)
• Water Department Capital Reserve Fund (est. 1944)
• Bridge Reconstruction Capital Reserve Fund (est. 1998)
• Landfill Pollution Abatement Fund (est. 2005)
• Library Renovation Project Expendable Trust Fund (est. 2020)
  The Select Board (3-0) and Budget Committee (8-0) recommend this action.

Financial Context: The MS-636 does not list specific interest amounts, as the balances are zero. General fund revenues for FY 2026 include $1,407,500 from Licenses, Permits, and Fees (MS-636).

Article 15: United States Semiquincentennial Anniversary Celebration – $10,000

Article 15 proposes appropriating $10,000 for planning the U.S. 250th anniversary in 2026, listed under “Patriotic Purposes” in the MS-636. The Budget Committee voted 6-0-2 to recommend, but the Select Board voted 2-1 against, and the MS-636 marks this as “Not Recommended” by the Select Board.

Financial Context: The Patriotic Purposes budget for FY 2026 is $10,000 (MS-636), matching this appropriation if approved. Culture and Recreation totals $1,399,530 (MS-636).

Article 16: Terms of Compensation for Elected Officials – $3,960

Article 16 proposes increasing compensation for the Treasurer (from $2,040 to $5,000/year) and Deputy Treasurer (from $1,500 to $2,500/year), costing $3,960 in FY 2026, as noted under “Financial Administration” in the MS-636. The Select Board (3-0) and Budget Committee (6-0-2) recommend this change.

Financial Context: The Financial Administration budget for FY 2026 is $486,780, up from $471,893 in FY 2025 (MS-636). This increase represents a small fraction of that budget.

Article 17: Elderly Tax Exemption Amounts

Article 17 proposes modifying elderly property tax exemptions under RSA 72:39-a:

• Ages 65-75: $100,000
• Ages 75-80: $150,000
• Ages 80+: $200,000
  The Select Board (3-0) recommends this change. It is not tied to a specific appropriation in the MS-636.

Financial Context: The MS-636 estimates $183,479 in tax revenues for FY 2026, down from $214,560 in FY 2025. This exemption may reduce tax revenue slightly, though the exact impact is not specified.

Article 18: Discontinue a Portion of Bass Road – By Petition

Article 18, proposed by petition, seeks to reclassify a 952-foot portion of Bass Road (from Wilton Road to Tax Map R002, Lot 41) from Class V to Class VI per RSA 229:5, VII and RSA 231:45, restricting motor vehicle access. The Select Board (3-0) recommends this reclassification.

Financial Context: The MS-636 does not specify maintenance costs for Bass Road, but the Highways and Streets budget is $2,214,692 (MS-636). Reclassification may reduce maintenance expenses.

Financial Summary

Articles 4-18 propose $4,510,329 in special appropriations, with $10,000 not recommended (Article 15), per the MS-636. Combined with the $19,047,184 operating budget, total appropriations are $23,557,513. Estimated revenues of $11,364,181 (MS-636) leave $12,193,332 to be raised through taxes.

How to Participate

The ballot session for these articles is on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Town House Upper Hall. A discussion session is scheduled for April 8, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the same location. The MS-636 Proposed Budget is available on the Town Clerk’s website for further details.

Next Steps

Residents can review these articles and their financial implications in the FY 2026 Town Meeting Warrant and MS-636 document. Voting on May 13, 2025, will determine the outcome of these proposals. For more information, contact the Peterborough Town Clerk’s office.