Important Town Meeting Dates and Deadlines

With budget recommendations having been made by the Merrimack Town Council and Merrimack School Board earlier this week, the rest of Town Meeting season is upon us.

The town and school deliberative sessions are a little over a month away. The public is invited to attend a meeting to discuss the budget and warrant articles for the school district on Wednesday, March 6. The town deliberative session will be a week later on Wednesday, March 13.

Voting day, to decide on elected officials, the budget and warrant articles, will be Tuesday, April 9.

Below, find a schedule of other important meeting dates and filing deadlines.

Jan. 29: School Budget Committee to hold department budget reviews with all six schools and the maintenance department. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. in the Merrimack High School cafeteria.

Jan. 31: School Budget Committee snow date for Jan. 29 meeting.

Feb. 5: School Budget Committee to hold department budget reviews with food services, library/media/technology, special services, and district-wide.

Feb. 7: School Budget Committee snow date for Feb. 5 meeting.

Feb. 12: School Budget Committee meeting to discuss warrant articles and recommendations. Public hearing at 7:30 p.m. in the Merrimack High Schoool cafeteria.

Feb. 12: Last date to file petitioned Warrant Articles, Petitioned Bonds.

Feb. 12: Special meeting for ratification of any outstanding union contracts.

Feb. 14: School Budget Committee snow date for Feb. 12

Feb. 14: 7 p.m. Regular Town Council meeting. Public Hearings will be held for the following items:

• 2013/14 Proposed Operating Budget
• Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Proposed Issuance of Debt
• Petitioned Bonds
• Other Petitioned Warrant Articles
• Review of Default Budget

Feb. 20: Filing period open for candidates running for town offices.

March 1: Filing period closes at 5 p.m. for candidates running for town offices.

March 4: Town warrant and budget booklet must be available to the public.

March 6: 7 p.m. School Deliberative Session in the James Mastricola Upper Elementary School All-Purpose Room.

March 7: 7 p.m. School Deliberative Session snow date, if needed.

March 13: 7 p.m. Town Deliberative Session in the JMUES APR.

March 14: 7 p.m. Town Deliberative Session snow date, if needed.

April 9: Voting Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m-7 p.m. at the JMUES APR.

April 12: Final date of candidates for town offices to apply to the Town Clerk for recount of election results.