Bennington town administration and the Select Board met in Pierce Elementary School Tuesday evening to discuss the town’s proposed 2023 budget of approximately $1.83 million, a 3.38 percent increase. 

The budget accounts for increased costs of goods and services and required upkeep such as hydrant flushing for all town buildings. 

“It’s really not up a lot, considering,” Town Administrator Deb Davidson said.

After reviewing the proposed operating budget, local attorney John Cronin, who moderated the hearing, went through a list of capital reserve items, which will each appear as separate warrant articles on the ballot in March. Eight of these include capital reserves for specific nonprofits: Contoocook Housing Trust, Community Volunteer Transportation, Grapevine Family Center, Court Appointed Special Advocated (CASA), Child Advocacy Center (CAC), End 68 Hours of Hunger, American Red Cross and Hundred Nights Shelter. The town also hopes to add a new capital reserve fund for the Cornucopia Project, a community garden grown through ConVal.

The articles will remain separate, although Cronin explained that it has been discussed that they be merged into one warrant article on the ballot.

“The vast majority of voters support [these articles],” and this would help shorten the time it takes to count the ballots,” he said. 

Select Board Chair Jim Cleary said he was on the fence about merging the articles, citing concerns about lumping together the organizations. Cronin asked the room to vote, and it was about an even split. 

A number of roads require maintenance in Bennington this year. There are two capital reserves, one for road rehabilitation and one for deferred maintenance, which go toward fixing roads. During the meeting, it was asked why these weren’t combined. 

“If you need $100,000 for something and it doesn’t pass, you have $0,” said Trustee of the Trust Funds Bethany Craig, “Sometimes it’s a safer bet to have money in multiple places.”

There is a $419,082.33 balance saved to purchase a new firetruck. The town plans to buy it in 2025. A property revaluation is planned for 2024. 

The capital reserve funds total $247,300. If they all pass, the total spending would total just under $2.1 million.

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