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HOLDERNESS SELECTMEN CONSIDERING FISCAL YEAR CHANGE
The Holderness Board of Selectmen is considering asking voters at the upcoming March town meeting to approve an eighteen month budget rather than a 12 month. This will allow the Selectmen to change the current fiscal year from a calendar year to a July 1 - June 30 fiscal year as of January 1, 2008. If approved, the one time 18 month budget will authorize municipal spending through June 30, 2009. In March of 2009 voters will be asked to approve the first 12 month budget of the new fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2009. According to Selectman and budget committee member Peter Webster, "there are some very positive benefits to making the change and a number of New Hampshire cities and towns have made it. Some of theses benefits include; having the town budget the same fiscal year as the local school districts, having a town meeting budget
approval prior to a portion of the budget being spent and the alignment of our property tax revenues with the fiscal year." Town Administrator Walter Johnson, noted, "we are still evaluating this change for this year, we want to be sure we have all our figures confirmed to cover the additional six months of expenditures. The Board of Selectmen will make a final decision on the proposed change after the February 13th budget hearing and prior to the final budget posting on February 25th. The budget committee has indicated they will support this change if proposed by the Selectmen."
Other items on the town warrant for discussion at the up coming March town meeting include; an increase in the veteran's tax credit from $400 to the maximum of $500 per year, the replacement of a highway dump truck for $135,000, the replacement of a police cruiser for $30,000, improvements to the public safety building for $7,100, $150,000 in road reconstruction, $30,000 for property revaluation, and $3,000 towards a memorial plaque dedicating the new Holderness/Plymouth bridge on Rt. 175A in memory of US Army Captain Douglas DiCenzo. The budget also proposes putting $300,100 into several existing capital reserve funds. Five amendments to the Holderness Zoning Ordinance will be on the ballot for consideration as well.
A reminder both the Town and Central School budgets will be discussed at a public hearing on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 beginning at 7:00 PM. Copies of the draft town budget can be obtained at the Town office.
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