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January 17. 2013 11:26PM

Goffstown budgets ready for voters

By KATHY REMILLARD
Union Leader Correspondent

GOFFSTOWN - The Budget Committee has made its final recommendations on town and school warrant articles, with a majority of members voting to recommend the spending.

The committee voted to support the town's proposed $19,382,591 budget, as well as all warrant articles in the town budget.

Four warrant articles will have no tax impact, including the purchase of computer software for town offices and the police department, the repair of a failed culvert on town land and improvements at the intersections of Main and Pleasant streets and Main, Elm and High streets.

Other warrant articles include requests for collective bargaining agreements for public works employees, and support of Goffstown's Main Street Program and Crispin's House, a nonprofit youth support organization.

Committee member Guy Caron initially made a motion not to recommend funding for the youth services program, but that motion was defeated and after discussion, the article was recommended by a 10-4 vote.

The committee also voted to recommend the school district's $37.3 million operating budget, as well as a warrant article asking voters to approve a $14.5 million bond for improvements and expansions at Maple Avenue Elementary and Bartlett Elementary schools.

Committee members John Burt, Guy Caron and Ivan Beliveau voted not to recommend the article, with Caron and Burt indicating that it is not the right time to try to pass a bond. Beliveau agreed that conditions are poor at Bartlett Elementary School, but said he didn't think the board had looked at how to fund the project by taking money from another area. Dian McCarthy, school board vice chairman, said an effort was made to hold off on the renovations at the elementary school until a bond for the middle school was paid off. That happened three years ago.

Elizabeth Dubrulle said she would support the project and was impressed that selectmen held off on other major projects in the town warrant.

Dubrulle also said the interest rate on the bond, which is 3.25 percent, will allow the project to be done cost effectively.

The school deliberative session is Feb. 2 at Goffstown High School.

kremillard@newstote.com