Article of note: A petitioned school article asks whether voters support a budget cap, requiring that the School Board keep the budget below $20,323 per pupil. An article on the town warrant asks whether the town should become an SB2, allowing ballot voting on all town issues on the second Tuesday of March. A petitioned town article asks whether the town should adopt a town manager form of government.
Contested races: There are three people running for two three-year terms on the Selectboard: Theresa Paige, Michael Small and Vickie L. Wyman. There are two people running for one, one-year term on the Selectboard: Ron Hurlburt and Adam York. There are no contested races for School Board. Stephanie Marston is running as a write-in.
Budgets and other spending articles: The proposed school budget is $17.7 million, up from $16.6 million last year. Another article seeks voter approval for the costs associated with a collective bargaining agreement with the Haverhill Cooperative Education Association, including $192,000 in the first year. The proposed town budget is $5.23 million, roughly flat from last year’s $5.24 million. In a separate article, the Selectboard is seeking $50,000 for a contingency fund for 2025 for “unanticipated expenses that may arise.” Another article seeks $322,000 for Brushwood Road reconstruction. Three petitioned articles seek funding for Woodsville: $163,000 for road paving, $128,000 for the Fire Department of Woodsville; and $336,000 for the Highway Department of Woodsville. Another petitioned article asks whether voters will appropriate $100,000 for a forensic audit from 2019-2024.
When, where and how to vote: Ballot voting will take place on Tuesday, March 11, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 2975 Dartmouth College Highway, North Haverhill. The annual school meeting is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 15 at 9 a.m. at the Haverhill Cooperative Middle School in North Haverhill. Town meeting will immediately follow the school session.