Thompson selectmen approve ad for second budget referendum after cuts shrink proposed mill‑rate increase

The Thompson Board of Selectmen voted June 2 to accept a revised referendum advertisement for a second town budget vote scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, from noon to 8 p.m.

First Selectman Nick Dunn told residents the original proposed mill increase of 1.56 failed at referendum and the board reworked the budget to present a smaller increase of 0.88. If approved in the June 24 referendum the mill rate would rise from 19.00 to 19.88.

Dunn detailed where the roughly $800,000 reduction and revenue gains came from: about $128,000 identified in town‑hall line items (including salary adjustments), roughly $60,000 in increased tax revenue from pursuing out‑of‑state registrations of residents, $20,000–$30,000 recovered from a tax sale, the postponement of a bond (saving about $200,000 in FY2026 interest), and capital reductions including a $200,000 reduction in fire capital that was partly redistributed to operating accounts. He said the school budget was cut further in the revisions and will need to identify internal reductions to balance its budget if voters approve the new town package.

"No rainy day funds were raided," Dunn said in response to a resident's question about prior-year transfers. "We found, including our own salaries, that we took about $128,000 at the town hall alone" and then outlined the other revenue and savings items that composed the reduction.

Resident Wayne O'Brien asked whether the board had moved money from reserves to cover prior school shortfalls; Dunn explained the board of finance and board of education have separate authorities and described how unfunded special‑education mandates can force mid‑year spending increases, which must be addressed at public board meetings if transfers are required.

The revised advertisement included a town operating budget of $9,761,340 (which the board said includes $96,611 for local capital improvements) and a Board of Education budget figure of $23,482,673. The board voted to approve the advertisement by voice vote; the motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: the advertisement will be distributed and the referendum held on June 24. If voters reject the revised proposal, the board will need to identify additional adjustments or other procedural steps consistent with statute and local rules. The board did not vote on changes to school allocations at this meeting; officials said the Board of Education will finalize any internal reductions and may return to public meetings with further recommendations.