Selectboard reviews draft 2026–27 budget, keeps modest contingencies

The Middletown Springs selectboard spent the evening refining its draft 2026–27 budget, keeping contingency amounts in place for equipment and services while confirming insurance and payroll lines. Members agreed to keep $1,000 in a miscellaneous line and $1,000 as an interim check-reader contingency after staff flagged compatibility issues with the treasurer’s computer.

"Just know that, if the check reader doesn't pan out, we're gonna go over budget," one staff member warned during the spreadsheet troubleshooting, prompting the board to preserve a contingency. The board confirmed property-liability insurance at $23,000 and workers' compensation at $11,500 and left a postage allowance of $2,500 to cover expected increases in mailing costs.

The board also discussed whether to ask voters to approve a postcard-style town-report notification to reduce mailing costs; members noted that change would require a vote and could save roughly $1,000 in mailing expenses. Several smaller program lines — including web maintenance ($1,500) and solid-waste electric ($1,500) — were accepted after staff provided six-month expenditure figures.

The selectboard directed staff to follow up with department listers before committing to a $3,000 tax-map update line and to continue carrying modest reserve amounts for municipal transfers and facilities as the budget rolls up to the final document.