June 12th, 2026 Executive Committee Budget Meeting

The Grafton County NH Executive Committee held a budget meeting on June 12, 2026, focusing extensively on the county's fiscal year 2027 budget. Key procurement-related discussions included motions to approve budget line items, wage and benefit studies, and budget reductions or increases in various departments. A significant motion was passed to authorize a wage and benefit study not to exceed $55,000 to evaluate compensation programs, including retirement and longevity payments, with an emphasis on recruitment and retention. The committee debated salary structures, step increases, longevity bonuses, and cost-of-living adjustments, reflecting concerns about balancing employee compensation with taxpayer impact. Other procurement topics included discussions on maintenance funding for the courthouse, social services budget reductions, and allocations for expert witness costs in legal proceedings. The committee also addressed budget transfer approvals for overspent line items and debated staffing levels in the sheriff's department. The final budget presented for delegation approval was approximately $60.5 million, with about $33.3 million to be raised by taxes. The meeting concluded with a motion to adopt the budget as amended and plans for future meetings to continue budget deliberations.