Sunapee Selectboard Schedules Hearings On $1.3M Solar Bond, Budget
The Sunapee Selectboard will hold public hearings January 12 to consider a bond of up to $1.3 million for a solar array and energy efficiency work at the town wastewater treatment plant, followed by review of the proposed 2026 operating budget and warrant articles. These hearings are a required step in municipal decision-making and offer residents an opportunity to weigh in on projects that could affect town finances, utility costs, and infrastructure resilience.
The Town of Sunapee will convene a pair of public hearings on Monday, January 12 at the Sunapee Town Offices Meeting Room, the Selectboard announced in a January 5 news release. The sessions open at 6:30 p.m. with a bond hearing held pursuant to RSA 33:8-a, then continue at 6:40 p.m. with the town budget hearing under RSA 32:5, I; 40:13, II-a (a).
At 6:30 p.m., the Selectboard will discuss a proposal to raise and appropriate up to $1,300,000 to fund installation of a solar array and implementation of energy efficiency measures at the Sunapee Wastewater Treatment Plant. The package aims to modernize plant systems and reduce energy use; financing through a bond would spread the upfront cost over time. The bond hearing is part of the statutory process that gives residents and officials a public forum to review the plan and its financial implications before the town moves forward.
Immediately afterward, the 6:40 p.m. session will focus on the proposed 2026 operating budget and any petitioned or governing body warrant articles. The Selectboard will review budget development documents and discuss how town services and priorities are funded in the coming year. Residents may inspect FY 2026 budget development materials on the Finance department page of the town website prior to the hearing.
For Sunapee taxpayers, the hearings matter on multiple levels. Upgrading the wastewater plant could lower long-term energy costs and improve operational reliability, potentially benefiting ratepayers and the town’s overall fiscal health. At the same time, bond financing and changes in the operating budget can affect the municipal tax rate and annual expenditures, making the hearings a timely opportunity for voters to assess trade-offs between near-term costs and longer-term savings or infrastructure improvements.
The meetings are open to the public, and community participation will shape whether the Selectboard advances these measures onto warrant articles for voter consideration. Residents who cannot attend in person should consult the town Finance page for the budget documents and for any information on how to participate or submit questions ahead of the meeting.
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