Budget: The proposed operating budget is $8.09 million, up 2.1 percent from last year’s budget of $7.93 million. Health insurance and expected $146,799 tuition to the high school are major unavoidable drivers in the budget, while proposed increases include $15,000 more for electricity, $11,000 for computers and $10,000 more for snow removal. This is compensated in part by a cut in teaching and custodial costs related stagnant enrollments.
Noteworthy articles: Voters will be asked to approve a pair of three-year contracts. One is for the Henniker Teachers Association, which would give annual increases of 2.2 percent, 1.7 percent, and 3.8 percent for each of the next three years.
If the budget and articles are approved, the tax rate will go up $1.42 cents per $1,000 assessed property value, which adds about $284 to the annual tax bill on a home assessed at $200,000. If the default budget passes, the tax rate would rise $1.25 per $1,000.
Contested races: Two school board seats are open for three years, as is a three-year seat for the school district moderator and one-year seats for the district clerk and treasurer. The filing period closed Friday.
When and where: The deliberative session will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday at Henniker Community School, 51 Western Ave. Ballot voting will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on March 12 at the school.
