Why is the 2023 Town Budget/Warrant Public Hearing on a Tuesday? (1/5/2023)

The 2023 window for the Budget/Warrant Public Hearings is January 10, 2023 - January 17, 2023.  The only Monday which falls within that window is January 16, 2023 which is the holiday recognizing the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.  Thus, the Select Board scheduled the public hearing for Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

There are two statutes which establish the public hearing window.  First RSA 32:5 says: The governing body, or the budget committee if there is one, shall hold at least one public hearing on each budget, not later than 25 days before each annual or special meeting, public notice of which shall be given at least 7 days in advance, and after the conclusion of public testimony shall finalize the budget to be submitted to the legislative body.  The first session (Deliberative Session) of Barrington's 2023 annual meeting is February 4, 2023 which makes January 10, 2023 exactly 25 days before. Next, RSA 40:13 says: Budget hearings under RSA 32:5 ... shall be held on or before the third Tuesday in January.  The third Tuesday in January is January 17, 2023.