TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

PUBLIC HEARING

2026 BUDGET AND WARRANT ARTICLES

FEBRUARY 5, 2026

Selectboard Present: Steven Dalessio, Chair; Carolyn Vose and Cheryl Mayberry 

Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Public Present: Seven Town Staff members and twelve Citizens of Walpole 

Call to Order: Mr. Dalessio called the Public Hearing to order at 5:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall. 

2026 Budget: Mr. Dalessio explained that the 2026 Budget is $4,869,641 which is an increase of 2.72%. Increases to the budget included Mutual Aid, health insurance costs, the County prosecutor, and tipping fees and waste hauling for the Recycling Department. There was a question from Kit Bowry about the cost of the Recycling center. Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry reported that about 40% of recycling fees cover the cost of recycling services. The remaining 60% is paid by taxes to encourage recycling. 

Mr. Dalessio continued the budget presentation stating that the Town is also saving on costs with the solar array at the Recycling Center to offset electrical charges, and new phones and system to cut expenses. The Town will continue to look for other savings. The Selectboard has been informed that the Town will get a $2,058,000 grant for the Police Station. Mr. Dalessio said that he did not know all details because the Town does not have paperwork yet. The new police station will need to meet Federal building requirements. The Police Station Building Committee hopes to break ground in mid-2027. The approval to build a Police Station will be voted on at a Town Meeting. For now, the Police Building Committee is putting everything in place so that the Town will be ready when it is approved. 

Peter Graves asked if we could use the Unassigned Fund Balance to cut taxes. Ms. Mayberry replied that last year, $400,000 of the Unassigned Fund Balance was used to keep the tax rate from increasing more than it did. This year, a lot of the tax rate increase is from Fall Mountain Regional School District (FMRSD) and is not controlled by Walpole. 

NH PDIP or Public Deposit Investment Pool is being used strategically to maximize interest earned on our funds. There was a question about using the Town’s surplus funds each year to generate income to help cover future costs. The Selectboard will ask the NH Municipal Association (NHMA) whether it would be allowed by RSA or Revised Statues Annotated which are State laws. 

Adjournment: Ms. Vose moved to adjourn. Ms. Mayberry seconded. Mr. Dalessio declared the meeting adjourned at 6:32 PM. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Tagged: Meeting Minutes, public hearing, SELECTBOARD