Do you want to vote but are confused about Town Meeting? Here’s how it works

Bob Schaumann casts a vote for an article to fund the planning of the closure of three defunct lagoons on Old Sharon Road during Jaffrey Town Meeting in 2024.

Bob Schaumann casts a vote for an article to fund the planning of the closure of three defunct lagoons on Old Sharon Road during Jaffrey Town Meeting in 2024. STAFF FILE PHOTO BY ASHLEY SAARI

Moderator Dotsie Millbrandt reads the rules for Mason Town Meeting in 2024, flanked by Town Clerk/Tax Collector Deb Morrison and Board of Selectmen Chair Kate Batcheller.

Moderator Dotsie Millbrandt reads the rules for Mason Town Meeting in 2024, flanked by Town Clerk/Tax Collector Deb Morrison and Board of Selectmen Chair Kate Batcheller. STAFF FILE PHOTO BY BILL FONDA

By DAVID BROOKS

Concord Monitor

Published: 02-04-2025 12:02 PM

It’s Town Meeting season in New Hampshire, a statewide tradition that gives everybody a voice in how their community works. For many, the concept of annual meeting is so foreign that it can be unapproachable. With those newbies in mind, we have created this little guide.

What is town meeting, anyway?

New Hampshire towns and school districts use annual meetings to set the yearly budget and approve some regulations, notably zoning laws. The basic idea is that every voter in the community, rather than just an elected council or school board, has the ability to decide on the budget and other key issues.

Sounds boring.Should I go?

It’s not mandatory, of course, but annual meeting is your one chance to have a say in the services provided by your town and school, as well as how much your tax bill will be. Most of the money approved at the annual meeting comes from property taxes on homes.

One requirement: You must be a registered voter in your community to cast a vote. If you’re not one, go to the town clerk and get registered!

But I won’t know what to do at the meeting

No problem. Annual meetings are run by an elected moderator who will explain in great detail what you, as a registered voter, can and cannot do. Many moderators are wannabe comedians; although the meetings are legal proceedings, they’re often not too strict.

Questions are always welcome. Remember that lots of people in the crowd will be first-timers.

OK, so how does it work?

Traditionally this involves an annual meeting in March, when voters gather in one place to discuss and vote, in a session that can last many hours. Votes usually happen by show of hands, although articles may be voted on by secret ballot during the meeting if people request it. Many smaller towns and some school districts still use this system.

Increasingly, annual meeting happens via a split system known as SB2. These voters gather at a “deliberative session” in February to discuss and amend budget items, but don’t cast a vote until the second Tuesday in March, election day. At that time the budget and other items are voted on via ballot, just like you do on Election Day.

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If you’re unsure about the schedule in your community, check their website.

The meetings arefull of weird terms.What do they mean?

Warrant article: The “warrant” is the list of items that voters consider. The operating budget for the coming year is one article on the warrant. Other articles can be specific, such as spending a set amount to buy a new fire truck, or general, such as urging state legislators to take a certain action.

Operating budget: The amount of money that the select board or school board can spend in the current fiscal year. Legally, annual meeting only sets the total amount of the budget; the boards can spend the money as they see fit. However, boards almost always follow the specific line-item amounts in the budget presented to voters.

Petitioned warrant article: Most warrant articles are written by the selectmen or, in some towns, the budget committee. But people can petition to place an article on the warrant if they get 25 signatures from registered voters in the community. The wording must meet certain legal requirements.

Trust funds: It’s common to have some warrant articles placing a certain amount of money in a trust fund for a specific purpose, such as a new police station, to be spent at a later date. The idea is to put aside a portion each year so that taxpayers don’t get hit with a huge bill when the time comes to pay for the project. Trusts are overseen by the Trustees of the Trust Funds, an elected body in town.

Expendable vs. capital reserve funds: The two main types of trust funds. Money from expendable funds can be spent at any time by the Trustees of the Trust Fund, but money from capital reserve funds can only be spent by a vote of the annual meeting or by an agent named at annual meeting.