With almost daily drug overdoses and spillover from Concord’s homeless population, Epsom just isn’t what it used to be, the police and fire chief told town officials Thursday night.

“Every time you watch TV and they close one of those camps in Concord, those people are coming to our town,” fire chief Stewart Yeaton said to members of the town Budget Committee.

Town voters will be asked to approve a new full-time police officer and a full-time firefighter in addition to the town and school budgets during this year’s town meeting. The cost for each first responder position will be about $100,000 a year.

Police Chief Brian Michael, who was sworn in before the budget public hearing, said calls for service have “skyrocketed,” as a result of the drug epidemic and more people driving through town after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, Michael did not have exact numbers.

With just under 5,000 people, Epsom retains a small town feel, but with two major state roads – Route 28 and Route 4 – emergency calls are dominated by traffic. Recently, police responded to a report of a man armed with a gun running down Route 4. The man was a felon in possession of a firearm and high on meth, Michael said.

“We’re still responding to a cat in the tree and a dog on the loose,” Michael said. “The seriousness of the calls has certainly increased.”

Yeaton said responding to overdoes calls is almost a daily event for the fire department. When someone is revived with Narcan, they can become disoriented and violent, Yeaton said, and he wants a police officer present on those calls.

“My biggest fear as the fire chief is one of my guys getting injured or killed,” Yeaton said, speaking in favor of adding a police officer. “We need those guys as back up.”

Last year a similar attempt to add a police officer failed by a dozen votes, with 310 against and 298 in favor.

The request for a firefighter is a new one this year. The fire department, which currently has five full time employees and 14 others who work part-time, volunteer or get paid by the call, responded to 1,123 calls last year, Yeaton said.

“We’re on two calls right now as I sit here,” he said at the meeting.

Just at Yeaton endorsed Michael’s request for a new officer, Michael returned the favor.

“He doesn’t ask for anything he doesn’t need,” Michael said of Yeaton. “There’s an overall need for another firefighter.”

The proposed town operating budget of $3.84 million, which is 3.9% higher than the current budget. If approved, it would add about 19 cents to the tax rate, which is $57 more a year for a house worth $300,000. If the proposed budget is voted down, the default budget of $3.71 million would not include an increase in taxes. 

The proposed school operating budget of $13.4 million, is an increase of 3.2% over the current budget but would carry a more significant tax impact. If approved, the school tax rate is expected to grow by $1.48, which would mean an extra $444 a year for a $300,000 home. The default budget is $13.35 million and would still increase taxes by $417 a year for a $300,000 home.

Voters will also be asked to approve a new three-year teachers contact , which is separate from the overall budget. 

The budget committee recommended the passage of all town and school spending items.

The budget hearing was the first  of three public steps in the SB2 process of Town Meeting. A deliberative session, when voters can debate and modify the budget and warrant articles, will be held Saturday, Feb. 4. Voting by ballot on the budget and warrant articles will take place on election day, Tuesday, March 14.

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