The proposed Rindge town budget for the coming year is approximately $5.6 million, or a 5.09% increase from the current year.

During a public hearing on the budget and warrant Wednesday, Select Board Chair Karl Pruter outlined several big increases or drops in the budget that account for the $272,544 increase from the previous year.

Among them are step raise increases for employees. Another impact was that in the previous year’s budget, the town had budgeted for only part of the year for two police positions, which were empty with expected hires to come on after training. This year, the the full salaries and benefits are accounted for. The year of 2025 also includes 53 pay periods, rather than 52.

The ambulance budget is up by about $38,500, which Selectman Tom Coneys said was a “compromise” number, about half of the increase initially requested by the Jaffrey-Rindge Memorial Ambulance. Pruter said that despite the increase, the agreement was still the “best deal in town” when it came to other alternatives to provide ambulance services, and other alternatives would be much more expensive.

Increasing the police force

In a separate warrant article, the town is requesting to expand its police force, from nine full-time officers to 10.

The article requests $93,591 for the position, which represents pay and benefits for a position from April until December. If adopted, the amount for a full year’s salary and benefits would he added to the budget.

Pruter said in the past, the town has struggled to maintain a fully staffed police force, but has since done significant work to increase pay and officer retention. He also said Rindge is no longer a “training ground” where new officers are certified through the department, but then may only stay a short time.

“We are still behind towns our size and number of calls,” Pruter said of the size of the force.

Providing for the ambulance service if the budget fails

The board has put forth an article related to rising costs on the ambulance, and how to fund it in years that the budget goes into default.

This year, there is a significant increase in the proposed ambulance budget, which jumped from $46,500 to a proposed $85,000, or a $38,500 difference. The town does not operate its own ambulance service, but contracts from the Jaffrey-Rindge Memorial Ambulance.

One article on the warrant would only take effect if the budget failed, and the town was operating on the default. The article would raise the $38,500 difference between last year’s budget and this year’s proposal in order to pay the ambulance contract. Usually, in a default year, any increases to contracted services would have to be absorbed in other places in the budget, but Pruter said because this increase is particularly steep, the town wants to ensure that ambulance services can still be provided. If the budget passes, the article would be null and void.

Originally, the town had a similar article planned to cover a $30,000 difference between the current and proposed solid waste contract, but scratched the article during the hearing Wednesday, after it was determined that the increase could be absorbed by the solid waste revolving fund.

Adding to capital reserves

Most of the articles on the warrant this year are to add funds to the town’s capital reserve funds or expendable trust funds.

The town is asking for $145,000 to be added to the fire department equipment capital reserve, which would be used for the purchase of a wildfire truck. The current truck used for wildfires is succumbing to rust, according to Pruter.

The town is asking for $150,000 in the Highway Department capital reserve fund, which would also be for a vehicle to replace one of the town plowing vehicles. Pruter said that truck has incurred heavy repair costs, and has been moved up two years on the replacement schedule. During the hearing, the board also agreed to add language that would authorize the Select Board as agents to spend from the fund, rather than requiring a vote at Town Meeting.

Other articles ask for the following additions: $35,000 for the revaluation capital reserve, $100,000 for the municipal building reserve, $50,000 for the police equipment reserve, $20,000 for the Ingalls Memorial Library expendable trust, $25,000 for the recreation facilities reserve and $25,000 for the Meetinghouse maintenance expendable trust.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.