Select Board — November 17, 2025

**Hopkinton Select Board — Nov. 17, 2025: What you need to know before the budget is finalized**

The Select Board met Monday for a packed session that included budget presentations from the Fire, Police, and Public Works departments, a committee restructuring, and a revenue overview.

**Green bag program eliminated:** Town Administrator Hambleton noted during the revenue overview that the green bag recycling program has been eliminated, though she cited strong recycling revenue despite the change. Residents who relied on the program should be aware of this shift.

**Committee restructuring:** The Economic Development Committee was renamed the "Community and Economic Development Committee" and had its mission and values revised. The debate centered on whether the committee's focus should be economic development or community development. Chair Dunlap argued much of the committee's work concerns community development. Board member Whitley abstained from both the renaming vote and the revised mission vote — the only board member to do so.

**What's at stake in the FY2026 budget:** Fire Chief Yale told the board that a second fire station is required to maintain the town's optimal ISO rating — and if that rating drops, homeowner insurance premiums could rise across Hopkinton. That's a direct cost concern for property owners. Public Works presented a $1 million East Penacook culvert replacement (on the state/municipal red list), a ~5% increase in paving costs, and growing sewer maintenance expenses. The Police Department budget had minimal changes, covering staffing, equipment, mobile communication migration to IMC Mobile, and body-camera storage costs. The full tax rate impact of all these increases has not yet been presented.

**Revenue projections** included $600,000 in rooms and meals tax and ambulance reimbursement changes.

**The board will review the budget on November 24 and finalize it on December 8.** If you care about your tax rate, your insurance costs, or town services, those are the meetings to watch — or attend.