This article is Part 2 of a six-part Town Hall Times series breaking down the warrant articles on the 2026 Town Meeting ballot. In this installment, we explain the proposed Charter Amendments that voters will review prior to the March 10, 2026, election.
Charter amendments are changes to the Town’s foundational governing document the Town Charter. Amendments clarify responsibilities, improve operations, or update procedures. Below are the proposed changes appearing on the ballot.
Article 02: Charter Amendment 1
This amendment will remove the requirement for the town to issue a request for proposals for a new audit firm every three years and the requirement to select a new audit firm every six years from the Charter. Removing the mandatory rotation and time limits from the Charter will promote financial continuity and stabilize professional services costs.
Recommendations:
- Town Council: With
- Budget Committee: N/A
Article 03: Charter Amendment 2
The proposed amendments rescind the Town’s adoption of the optional provisions of the Municipal Budget Law, eliminate the Budget Committee, and eliminate all references to the Budget Committee. Following the elimination of the Budget Committee, the Town Council would be responsible for preparing future budgets.
Recommendations:
- Town Council: With
- Budget Committee: N/A
Article 04: Charter Amendment 3
This amendment revises §6.3.7 to state that Elected and Appointed Officials (EAOs) cannot use their position or influence to obtain benefits, cause detriment, or impact decisions for themselves or others.
Recommendations:
- Town Council: With
- Budget Committee: N/A
Article 05: Charter Amendment 4
This amendment adds a new section §6.3.13 which requires EAOs to complete ethics training within three months of their election or appointment and subsequently each year of their term.
Recommendations:
- Town Council: With
- Budget Committee: N/A
Article 06: Charter Amendment 5
Due to an amendment in 2024, the appointment of alternates was inadvertently modified to create term lengths inconsistent with regular member appointments and RSA 36-A. The proposed amendment would make the appointment of regular and alternate members consistent with the statute.
Recommendations:
- Town Council: With
- Budget Committee: N/A
What This Means for You
Charter amendments are different from budget or expenditure articles because they change the rules of how Salem is governed. While some changes are structural or procedural, others may impact how committees operate or how officials are selected or trained.
We encourage residents to take a moment to review Articles 2–6 in the full Voter’s Guide before heading to the polls. Residents seeking additional election information, including polling locations and hours, are encouraged to visit the Town’s Election Information page.
Part 3 of 6 will break down the 2026 Proposed Operating Budget, what it includes, how it compares to the default budget, and what voters should know.