Budget Committee

Appointed Officials, 3 years terms, expiring March.

The Town of Auburn operates under the standards of the Municipal Budget Law (RSA 32:1), which is intended to “establish uniformity in the manner of appropriating and spending public funds” in all towns and districts that adopt their budgets at an annual meeting of voters.

In terms of the budget process, there are five key concepts of the Municipal Budget Law that affect the Budget Committee and their work.  They are:

  • Appropriations
  • Gross Basis Budgeting
  • Warrant Notice and Permissible Amendments
  • No Spending Without an Appropriation
  • 10 Percent Limitation

In Auburn, the Budget Committee is responsible for developing and recommending an annual operating budget to the voters for both the municipal government and the school district.  The Budget Committee is also responsible for recommending or not recommending special expenditures of funds separate from the operating budget that are contained in separate warrant articles.  The Budget Committee generally meet during the months of September / October through January.

The Budget Committee recommendations to voters are important as the 10 percent rule contained in the Municipal Budget Law prevents a town meeting from appropriating large amounts in excess of budget committee recommendations.  The Budget Committee’s recommendations generally cannot be exceeded by more than 10 percent.

Should a special Town Meeting or School District Meeting be necessary and the business to be addressed concerns a financial appropriation, the Budget Committee would have the same responsibilities as those for the annual meetings.

The Budget Committee consists of eight voting members including six members of the public who are appointed by the Town Moderator, a representative of the Auburn School Board selected by the Auburn School Board, and a representative of the Board of Selectmen selected by the Board of Selectmen.  Board members who are appointed by the Town Moderator appointed to office for staggered three-year terms, while the School Board and Board of Selectmen representatives are appointed for one-year terms of office.

The statutory authority of the Budget Committee is primarily derived from the Municipal Budget Law (RSA 32).

Staff Contacts

Name Title Phone
Chris Sterndale Town Administrator (603) 483-5052

Board Members

Name Title
Peter W. Miles Chairman (2025)
Joanne Linxweiler Member (2024)
Paula Marzloff Member (2025)
Daniel Carpenter Member (2023)
Kevin Downing Member (2023)
David Wesche Vice Char (2024)
Keith N. Leclair Selectman (2024)
Janice Baker School Board (2023)