Windham is currently debating their budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

A proposal from Town Manager Barry Tibbetts, which was presented to the town council on Feb. 1, would see municipal expenses of $35,248,462, up from the previous year’s budget of $33,487,270, a total increase of 5.26%. This, combined with RSU 14 (Windham and Raymond) expenditures of $28,096,394, a county tax of $2,012,255, and $1,263,110 coming from tax-increment financing districts, will lead to a total expected budget of $66,826,011, an increase of 2.7% from the previous year. Windham’s tax rate is also expected to increase slightly, from $11.47 to $11.74.

Among the department budgets, the largest increase in terms of percentage will go toward general government expenses, which will see an increase of 12.9%, for a total of $8,819,835. Within this category, the largest portions of the budget will be taken up by employee benefits, which will receive an increase of 15.4%, for a total of $5,397,601; town management, increasing 18.6%, a total of $1,367,126; and insurance, increasing 10.5%, a total of $211,496. The town clerk’s office, however, will see a net decrease of 7.6%, to a total of $287,053.

Regarding the other departments, development and conservation will see an increase of 2.9%, for a total of $708,581; fire-rescue and emergency management will go up 3.8%, for a total of $3,501,634; police and safety will increase 4.6%, a total of $4,063,891; property and inspection, which includes the assessment and code enforcement offices, will increase 5%, totaling $859,619; Public Works is up 5.5%, totaling $5,450,550; recreation and culture, including the Parks and Recreation Department and the public library, is up 6.9%, totaling $1,327,556; health and welfare, including the town’s social services and property tax assistance program, will see an increase of 10.8%, for a total of $577,681.

The town will also spend $3.6 million on capital equipment, an increase of 491.6% from the previous year. These include $1.5 million each on improvements for Gambo Field and a new playground close to the fire station in North Windham, as well as $250,000 for a new dump truck. Meanwhile, $960,000 is expected to go toward road improvements, a decrease of 70% from the previous year, and $1,466,110 is expected to go toward building and facilities improvement, a decrease of 35.1% from the previous year.

The budget is expected to be discussed several times, most recently at a Finance Committee meeting on March 31 and a Town Council meeting on April 8 before a public hearing on May 13, during which the council will approve the final warrants. These warrants will in turn be voted on at Windham’s town meeting, which will take place on June 14.