Town of Lincoln

The meeting commenced with the appointment of a temporary moderator due to a vacancy and an explanation regarding the use of clickers for voting, as established in a previous meeting. Key actions included the election of a Clerk and a Treasurer. The voters accepted the report of the School District Board of Directors and approved the proposed annual stipends for district officers. Authorization was granted to the School District Board of Directors to borrow money, although Article 5 required an amendment to change the fiscal year from 2026 to 2027. The voters approved the School District Board of Directors' budget expenditure for fiscal year 2027, resulting in an estimated per pupil education spending increase. A motion to postpone Article 7 regarding the adoption of the budget by Australian ballot indefinitely passed. Finally, the meeting acknowledged the final day of service for one School Board member.

The combined Annual Town Meeting and Lincoln School District Meeting addressed several articles. Key actions included the passage of a motion to accept town and school district officer reports. Voters authorized real property tax payments in two installments for 2026 and 2027. Expenditures for the General Fund ($711,988) and the Highway Fund ($1,132,948, including a deficit coverage) were authorized. Proposals to adopt both General Fund and Highway Fund budgets by Australian ballot beginning in 2027, as well as a proposal for a paving reserve fund transfer, failed. The meeting included appropriations for the Lincoln Cooperative Preschool, Lincoln Library, Lincoln Sports, Inc., Lincoln Volunteer Fire Company, Bristol Rescue, and the Lincoln Cemetery Association. Finally, several agency requests were approved for funding.

The Special Town Meeting addressed several articles. Article 1 involved a vote to exempt the Lincoln Volunteer Fire Company from municipal and state property taxes, which passed. Article 2 concerned a vote to exempt the Lincoln Cooperative Preschool from municipal taxes for a period of 5 years and to cover the state education tax as a voted exemption; this passed via division of the house. Under general business, clarification was sought regarding the status of tabling a previous article concerning voting on budgets by Australian ballot, with an update provided on the formation of an exploratory committee and its upcoming first meeting. The meeting adjourned shortly after.

The Special Town Meeting addressed business resulting from the work of the Town Meeting Advisory Committee, which was formed after voters tabled an article regarding Australian ballot voting for money articles at the 2025 Annual Town Meeting. Key discussions involved the committee's proposals, including the costs and logistics of renting or buying an electronic voting system (clickers) for future floor town meetings, and the possibility of changing the day for the Annual Town Meeting. Article 1 passed, approving the start of the Annual Town Meeting at 10:00 a.m. on the Saturday preceding the first Tuesday in March, beginning in 2026, despite concerns about traffic and conflicts with school breaks. Article 2 passed, authorizing the Selectboard to rent or buy an electronic voting system to be used as a voting procedure at floor town meetings beginning in 2026, following several amendments regarding the scope of its use. The school district meeting was recessed temporarily to conduct town business.

The annual meeting covered several articles, beginning with the election of a clerk and a treasurer, both positions filled by Sally Ober. The voters accepted the School District Board of Directors' report, noting a correction regarding an education spending typo in the Town Report. Stipends for district officers were approved. Authorization was granted for the District Board of Directors to borrow money via bonds or notes for fiscal year 2026. A key discussion involved Article 6, regarding the transfer of surplus funds to the Education Reserve Fund; an amendment to split the transfer between Education Reserves and a proposed Building Maintenance Reserve Fund was considered but ultimately withdrawn. The article ultimately passed as warned, authorizing the transfer of up to $380,000 of surplus funds to the Education Reserve Fund. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2026, totaling $5,179,244.76, was approved. A motion to table Article 8, concerning the adoption of Australian ballot voting for future budgets starting in FY2027, passed, postponing the decision.