Bennington approved a proposed operating budget of approximately $1.92 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year at the town’s annual budget hearing Tuesday night.

Questions from residents centered around fire truck equipment, costs for water and sewer and the potential for possible changes at the recycling center. Bennington contracts with the Antrim Water Department for maintenance of town water and sewer, an increases include $55,000 for water and sewer services.

Town Administrator Deb Davidson said she had spoken with Matt Miller of the Antrim Water and Sewer Department about the increase in costs, which were due to an increase in the hourly wage Antrim is charging Bennington. Davidson said that initially, Antrim had sent bills charging $109 an hour for their services, but that Bennington had negotiated the hourly wage down to $93 an hour. 

“There are certain certifications that are needed to run the water department, and there are things we need Antrim to do,” Davidson said. 

Select Board Chair Jim Cleary said Antrim’s water and sewer department is looking into whether it can do more services in house. 

During review of the Fire Department budget, resident Ronnie Clough stated his concerns about some line items, including an equipment storage box for the town’s new fire truck which will cost $22,000. 

“I was totally against the new fire station, and I am totally against the new truck, and I am not voting for anything to do with the fire station,” Clough said. “Someone should have read that bid for the new truck.”

Cleary acknowledged that there had been issues with the purchase of the new truck, which had been initiated by the previous fire chief, who is no longer with the department.

“We have to outfit these trucks properly, and the equipment box is part of the package,” Cleary said. 

Cleary said the town had saved significant money on the new fire truck by using cash from the Capital Reserve Fund.

“Because we were able to use funds from the Capital Reserve Fund to put money down for the truck, the payments went from $60,000 to $30,000. Using capital reserve funds is the best way our town can save money on equipment like this,” Cleary said. 

During a discussion of the rising costs for removal or trash and recyclables, longtime resident Joe McGregor asked if the town was required to recycle, and whether it made sense if the costs were going to keep rising. 

“We are paying $19,000 a year to remove recyclables. We want to do the right thing, but how much is actually recycled?” MacGregor asked.

Transfer station employee Curtis Dude said the town would pay for removal of items whether they are recycled or not. 

“The whole cost is in hauling. Not recycling would not save us money. We do make money from aluminum, glass, tin and steel,”  Dude said. “The plastic market is volatile, and sometimes it is was down. The best thing you can do with plastics is not buy it in the first place,”

Answering residents’ questions about cardboard recycling, Cleary said the town would be happy to create a committee looking into the possibility of separating paper and cardboard in order to bale and sell dry cardboard. Currently, the Bennington Recycling Center is not set up for separation of paper and cardboard. 

“I would love to pursue the possibility of separating out cardboard and paper if that is something the town supports,” Dude said. 

Bennington is one of 71 towns in New Hampshire that switched to the SB2 format of government, which is an alternative to traditional Town Meetings. According to New Hampshire law, SB2 towns must hold an budget hearing or deliberative session 25 days before the two sessions of Town Meeting.

The first session of Bennington’s public Town Meeting to discuss warrant articles and budgets will be held at the Bennington Town Hall Gymnasium, Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 6 p.m. For information go to townofbennington.com.