Hooksett Budget Committee Meeting

Date: December 12, 2025
The Budget Committee convened to review and discuss the proposed warrant articles for the upcoming town vote. A posting glitch prevented the meeting notice from being physically posted in the building, so no motions or votes could be taken. The committee focused on discussion only, covering the municipal budget, union contracts, capital reserve funds, and scheduling for future meetings.

Discussion Items

• Posting Glitch: Chair noted the meeting was posted online but not in the building; no voting allowed. Attendance taken: William Lynch, Germano Martins, John Siempa, Elizabeth Spitzer, Mary Ann Susi, Ernie Ben Chega, Alyssa Ells, Mike Kowak present; Darren Greenberg and Lindsay Will Liberty absent.
• Municipal Budget Timing: Chair proposed delaying the budget vote to either piggyback on next week’s meeting or schedule in January, pending the length of warrant article discussion.
• Transfer Station Saturday Closures: The Town Administrator reported that a default budget already includes $19,000 savings from closing every other Saturday from April to December. Three full-time staff work Saturdays. Impact on Monday recycling tonnages is still being assessed.
• Police Hybrid Vehicle Warranties: Police Chief explained that Ford hybrid warranties cover 3yr/36k bumper-to-bumper, 5yr/100k powertrain, and 8yr/100k for hybrid components. The town saved $6,000 due to warranties but spent $4,000 on non-covered repairs. Downtime averages 2-4 weeks due to limited dealer capacity. Vehicles typically rotate out before warranty expires.
• Warrant Article Review (Small Package)
  • Non-Union Raises: Request $88,761 for 3% increase for 6 full-time and 26 part-time employees. Recommended 7-0 by Town Council.
  • Radio Console Replacement: Request $250,000 from fund balance to replace the radio console (cost $250k). A separate capital reserve of $367k will fund a new tower (estimated $300k). Recommended by Council.
  • DPW Union Contract: Three-year contract with 4% raises per year (first year $79,101). Same as last year’s failed proposal. Recommended 7-0.
  • Middle Management Union Contract: Three-year contract with a $2/hour increase in year one (average 7.23%), step scale adjustment in year two, and a 3% step addition in year three. Total cost reduced from $209k to $179k. Recommended 6-1.
• Warrant Article Review (Thicker Package)
  • Fire Apparatus Capital Reserve: Request $250,000 for future replacement of engines and ladder truck. Current balance $86k. Estimated replacement costs: pumper $1M, ladder $2.1M. Recommended 5-0. Discussion noted that failure to fund could force bonding at higher cost.
  • DPW Vehicles Capital Reserve: Request $250,000 to replace a 2006 plow truck. Current balance $86k. Recommended 5-0.
  • Town Building Maintenance Capital Reserve: Request $250,000 for safety center parking ($600k) and town hall roof replacement ($265k). Current balance $86k. Recommended 5-0.
  • Fire Radios Capital Reserve (new): Request $162,000 to start a reserve for radio replacement (10-year lifespan, purchased 2016). Recommended 4-1.
  • Police Equipment/Emergency Radio Capital Reserve: Request $150,000 (split: $75k police equipment, $75k emergency radio). Combined with earlier $250k fund balance for console. Recommended 5-0.
  • Salary Amendment (Finance Staff): Request $133,100 for a new finance position (range $76k-$107k). Recommended 3-2. Discussion emphasized redundancy and risk of penalties without backup.
  • Revaluation Fund: Request $110,000 for a statistical update (cost expected $250k). Current balance $27k. Recommended 5-0.
  • Drainage Upgrade Capital Reserve: Request $100,000 for Edgewater Drive riverbank design ($107k). Current balance $77k. Recommended 5-0.
  • Retirement Expendable Trust: Request $100,000 to replenish fund used for 6 retirements ($61k paid out). Current balance $15k. Recommended 5-0.
  • Fire Equipment Capital Reserve: Request $80,000 (split: $30k air packs/bottles, $50k rescue tools). Current balance $127k. Recommended 5-0.
  • Information Technology Capital Reserve: Request $60,000 for VMware to Hyper-V transition ($29k) and server license upgrades. Current balance $1k. Recommended 5-0. Discussion suggested smaller annual asks.
  • Parks/Recreation/Conservation Capital Reserve: Request $70,000 (split: $50k recreation facility development, $20k conservation land improvement). Projects include West Side Park, Petersbrook parking lights, head pond trails. Recommended 5-0.
• Scheduling for Upcoming Meetings: Committee discussed moving the school budget vote to the next meeting (December 18) and the town budget vote to January 8, to allow completion of bonding articles (TIF bond, scale house bond, police union contract) by the January 15 public hearing.

Key Outcomes

• No votes taken due to the posting glitch; all discussion only.
• Committee will meet again on December 18, 2025 to vote on the school budget and possibly the town budget.
• The January 8, 2026 meeting is tentatively scheduled for town budget wrap-up.
• Bonding articles for TIF and scale house (funded through solid waste revenue) and police union contract will be finalized by January 14 and presented at the January 15 public hearing.
• Several warrant articles were not recommended for this year (e.g., automated collection equipment).
• Staff will refine wording in voter guides to better explain union contract structures and the finance position’s risk mitigation benefits.