As 2025 begins, towns that operate under ballot voting are gearing up in earnest for their budget season, with hearings scheduled for later this month.

The ballot voting system is sometimes referred to as SB2, after Senate Bill 2, the law that outlines the process. While most towns in the region continue to operate under the Town Meeting model, some towns and most school districts have adopted ballot voting, and while some aspects are similar, there are key differences in the process.

Locally, the towns of Bennington, New Ipswich and Rindge, along with the school districts of ConVal, Jaffrey-Rindge, Mason and Mascenic, operate under SB2. Antrim, Dublin, Francestown, Greenfield, Greenville, Hancock, Jaffrey, Lyndeborough, Mason, Peterborough, Sharon, Temple and Wilton all operate under the traditional Town Meeting format, and the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District has a district meeting.

Differences in the systems

In a Town Meeting system, there is a budget hearing, and then voters have the opportunity to debate, amend and vote on most warrant articles in person during a single Town Meeting in March. Ballot voting still takes place, on a separate day, usually in the same week in March, where residents vote on town offices, zoning amendments and some warrants required by law to be on the ballot.

SB2 towns also have budget hearings, though they are generally held earlier in the year, due to the law outlining SB2. However, rather than a Town Meeting, voters hear, debate and can amend articles during a deliberative session. The main difference between deliberative session and Town Meeting is that while articles can be amended to the final form that will appear on the ballot, residents do not vote on them at deliberative session. Rather, they return to the ballot box in March to cast their vote.

Typically, in a Town Meeting system, if the proposed budget fails to pass, voters will offer amendments until an acceptable number is reached. In SB2 towns, if the budget fails at the ballot, there is a set default budget that will go into effect instead. The default budget includes the same appropriations as the previous year’s operating budget, plus debt service, contracts and other obligations previously incurred or mandated by law, and minus one-time expenditures from the operating budget. Voters can also approve an option to hold one special Town Meeting to discuss the matter of the budget, if it fails.

Last year, the Mascenic deliberative session cut the proposed operating budget by $1 million, from $21.45 million to $20.45 million, lower than the default budget of $21.15 million. At the School Board’s urging, voters rejected the budget proposal, leaving the district operating under a default budget this school year.

Upcoming hearings

Budget and bond hearings for bonds over $100,000 must be held by Jan. 21, by law.

Rindge will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget and warrants on Jan. 15 at 6:15 p.m., in the Rindge town offices. The town’s deliberative session is Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. at the Rindge Memorial School.

New Ipswich’s public hearing on the proposed budget is Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Mascenic Regional High School. The deliberative session is Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. in the Mascenic Regional High School.

The ConVal School District budget and bond hearing is scheduled for Jan. 16 at 7 p.m., at the SAU office, with a scheduled snow date of Jan. 21. Deliberative session is scheduled for Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. in the ConVal High School gym.

The Jaffrey-Rindge School Board is scheduled to hold a bond hearing on Jan. 16 at 6:30 p.m., at Conant High School for a proposed $6.849 million project to design and construct a new career and technical education center. The budget hearing will occur immediately after the conclusion of the bond hearing, in the same location. The deliberative session is scheduled for Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rindge Memorial School gymnasium. 

The Mascenic School Board is scheduled to hold its budget hearing at Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Mascenic Regional High School gym. The deliberative session is scheduled for Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. at Mascenic Regional High School.

The Mason School District is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the budget on Jan. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mason Elementary School. Deliberative session is scheduled for Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. in the Mason Elementary School.

Voting for all the above towns and school districts is March 11. Each town may have individual voting times. Check your town website for more information about voting locations and times.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.