Finance Committee backs 3.5 percent COLA as budget review begins
Finance Committee · Meeting of March 13, 2026
New Salem Finance Committee backs 3.5 percent COLA, approves reserve fund transfer. The committee unanimously recommended the cost-of-living adjustment to the Select Board and Annual Town Meeting while beginning review of fiscal 2027 budget requests. Members voted unanimously to approve a $19,100 transfer from the reserve fund to complete highway equipment maintenance on a Peterbuilt truck and endorsed a $12,000 Energy Committee estimate for solar installation maintenance.
The committee adjusted health insurance to $155,790 by removing a vacant policy and plans to coordinate budget strategy with Wendell on potential operating override measures.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 220 words
Source: the Finance Committee meeting of March 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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