KEENE, NH – Voters in the Town of Swanzey are set to gather tonight to discuss and amend the 12 warrant articles before they head to the ballot in March.

This year’s warrant features a dozen articles, including a proposed $7,425,000 operating budget. Before last month’s budget hearing, Town Administrator Michael Branley told WKBK that that’s about a 7% increase over last year’s budget, driven by increased costs for things such as electricity and heat.

Other warrant articles include amendments to the Town’s zoning ordinance, and the raising of funds for various expandable trusts and capital reserve accounts. One notable gap in the warrant is the absence of an article proposing a bond to build a new fire station on Old Homestead highway to replace the station currently housed in the basement of the Town Hall. That’s been on the warrant for the last several years, and has been a bit of a point of contention in the town.

Branley said last month’s budget hearing was fairly straightforward and there were no items on the warrant that seemed to draw any major discussions among voters in attendance.

The meeting gets underway Tuesday evening at 7 pm at Whitcomb Hall. It will also be livestreamed on Zoom, however Branley said that is for viewing only and voters must be present in person to participate. Login information will be made available on the town’s website. Voting will take place on Tuesday March 14th from 8 am – 7 pm in the Monadnock Regional High School gymnasium.