Want to influence where our tax dollars are spent?
As we head into the season for developing the Town’s calendar year 2026 budget (published in the Annual Town Report and the Annual Town Meeting Warrant), the Select Board is seeking up to three volunteers to participate in the Budget Committee. With two previous members of the committee now holding incompatible elected positions and another having termed out, three of the five seats are available.
The Blue Hill Budget Committee participates in the development of the Town’s line-by-line budget including, in particular, including discussion about any significant spending plans, an examination of where reductions in spending are possible, and, ultimately, the amount of the proposed spending that will be recommended to be funded with property taxes. For each spending article in the warrant, the Select Board and the Budget Committee typically make separate recommendations to voters for the amounts they believe voters should appropriate. The Select Board and Budget Committee recommendations may be for the same amount, but not necessarily so.
The typical budget cycle involves:
- 4-6 meetings, jointly with the Select Board, as the budget is developed;
- a similar set of meetings to observe the School Committee’s development of the education budget;
- other meetings, as desired, for the Budget Committee to consider their recommendations; and
- if desired, drafting a brief Budget Committee report for inclusion in the Annual Town Report.
It is anticipated that the budgeting meetings will be held during December and January, with finalization of the budget targeted for the first two weeks in February.
Any Blue Hill residents interested in learning more about the committee and, possibly, volunteering to serve, should contact Scott Miller at smiller@bluehillme.gov before November 28.