Hot topic: A petition warrant article would shake up the town’s voting schedule by moving voting day to May instead of March.
The article, which is not recommended by the select board, would have voting take place on the second Tuesday in May, and move the deliberative session to late March, according to the ballot.
The proposed change comes after New Hampshire was wallopped by snowstorms during the last two town voting days, which traditionally take place on the second Tuesday in March.
A handful of towns already buck the trend, so the move isn’t unheard of.
Budget: The proposed operating budget is $13.6 million. That’s about $545,764 more than last year’s budget of $13.1 million.
The increase is spread across various places: About $111,000 more would go to the police department; $168,435 would go to the highways and streets department; $76,000 would go to solid waste collection; the administration and direct assistance for the welfare department would see an increase of $44,340; and the parks and recreation department would see an overall increase of $43,461.
Noteworthy articles: The town will consider whether to spend $400,000 to improve the recycling center and construct a transfer station, which would come from the fund balance and not through additional taxes. The article is unanimously recommended by the select board and 8 to 4 by the budget committee.
About $80,250 is being proposed for building and floor improvements to the fire station. Around $125,000 would go to upgrading the police department’s radio system, the first of a three-year project with a total estimated cost of $225,000. Both those items are expected to come from the fund balance, and are recommended by the select board and the budget committee.
A petition article will ask the town to authorize the operation of Keno 603.
When and where: The deliberative session will take place at 7 p.m. on Feb. 5 at Gilford High School. Ballot voting will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. March 12 at the Gilford Youth Center.