Manchester's Finance Committee takes up four town meeting money articles Thursday: a fire engine, water meter debt, the Essex school and a senior center

Manchester's Finance Committee meets Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. in Room 7 at Town Hall, 10 Central St., and on Zoom. Four of the money articles headed to the Nov. 16 special town meeting are on its agenda.

What is on the agenda

• New fire engine. At an Oct. 5 joint meeting, town officials said the article would use $710,927 from free cash, the town's leftover money from past years. The engine costs about $1 million in all, and about a third was already paid.
• Water meter debt. About $192,000 from the water capital fee would go toward paying down the borrowing for the town's new water meters, officials said Oct. 5. The agenda calls it "Water Meter Revenue reduce BAN." A BAN is a short term loan the town takes out before long term borrowing.
• The new Essex Elementary School. Manchester's share of the $95.3 million school would be about $50 million after state aid, school leaders told the boards on Oct. 5. Read what the boards were told.
• Senior and community center. The article being drafted would borrow up to a set amount, reduced by grants or gifts, and require at least $3 million in private fundraising before the project goes out to bid.

The committee will also go over the town's 25 year long term capital and debt plan and its effect on the tax rate, "including FY27 appropriations (less those not needed)," as the agenda puts it. Members will also hear updates from the town administrator and the finance director.

What comes next

The Select Board sets the final list of articles on Oct. 19. The special town meeting is Monday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. at Memorial School. The Finance Committee's next meeting is Oct. 22.

How to take part

The meeting is in person and on Zoom, and it is recorded. Join at the Zoom link on the agenda (meeting ID 854 1216 5956, passcode 574202) or by phone at 1 646 558 8656. If the technology fails, the meeting goes on in person.

Earlier coverage: Manchester's share of the new Essex school would be about $50 million after state aid, boards are told (Oct. 9), the joint meeting that went through the warrant. Manchester this week (Oct. 12) has the town meeting registration and petition deadlines.