Planning Board alerted to possible one‑year delay to school capital improvement plan

Members of the Merrimack Planning Board were told the school district’s capital improvement plan may be delayed by a year if the school board accepts a revised budget, a development members said could push back roofing and other projects.

At the meeting a member summarized the concern: the planning and building committee has supported the capital improvement plan, but if the school board votes to accept a changed budget, projects could be deferred by a year. The member said there have been presentations but no budget votes yet.

Board members agreed to monitor the budget process and hold additional meetings to explain impacts to the CIP. The group also reviewed scheduling constraints around the town and school budget calendar, noting the public hearing deadline of Feb. 17, school vacation and deliberative session dates and potential conflicts for March meeting dates.

No votes or formal directives on the CIP were recorded; the board treated the item as a planning/monitoring matter and planned follow‑up when the budget process produced definitive votes.