Hooksett Town Council Budget Review Meeting - September 2, 2026

The Hooksett Town Council held a budget review meeting on September 2, 2026, at 6:09 PM to discuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2027-2028 operating budget. Town Administrator Andre Guerin presented an overview of the $22.6 million proposed budget, which is a 1.24% increase over the FY26-27 default budget. The meeting covered major departments, with a focus on road paving funding, new part-time positions, and health insurance costs. No public comment was offered, and no votes were taken. The council will continue budget review on September 16, 2026.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public provided comment.

Discussion Items

Budget Overview (Town Administrator Andre Guerin)

• Proposed expenditures: $22.6 million, 1.24% over FY26-27 default budget ($22.3 million).
• Revenue projected at $8.1 million (3.87% increase), excluding wastewater revenues.
• Health insurance: 12% increase built into all department budgets, based on past trends.
• New Part-time positions proposed: 0.5 Code Enforcement Officer and 0.5 Assistant Finance Director. Both positions had been rejected in prior years as full-time requests.
• Road paving: The default budget had included $300,000, but the new proposal removes all paving from the operating budget and replaces it with a $900,000 warrant article (for each of five years, totaling $4.5 million) to let voters decide. Councilors expressed mixed views: some noted the risk if the warrant fails, others preferred a hybrid approach similar to past years (e.g., $300k in budget + $600k warrant). A road condition survey using LiDAR is ongoing to inform the warrant article.

Family Services (Patricia Caruso)

• Proposed budget of $58,622, a 0.81% increase over FY27. Welfare line reduced by $8,000 (to $50,000) due to efficient management. New line item: $1,000 for home health and hospice care, responding to increased demand from elderly residents.

Tax Collector (presented by administrator)

• Proposed budget $382,277 (+4.62% over FY27). Increase driven by union raises ($11,000) and health insurance (12% increase, $7,205). Four staff confirmed as adequate. Health insurance distribution: one single, one family, one opt-out, one stipend.

Public Works (Ben and DPW team)

• Overall DPW budget $5,370,771, a 5% reduction ($284,959) from FY27, primarily due to removal of $300,000 road paving. Breakdown by division:
  • Highway: $2,862,969 (13.05% decrease, reflecting no paving funds). Line striping to be done every other year; professional services increased $33,500 for striping. Fuel costs: gasoline at $3.60/gal, diesel at $3.80/gal.
  • Parks, Recreation & Cemetery: $819,426 (10.31% increase). Includes $5,000 for park fence repairs, $18,500 for a new zero-turn mower (delayed for three years due to default budgets), and paving behind Head Cemetery chapel.
  • Recycling & Transfer Station: $1,688,367 (1.1% increase). Overtime lines total $31,750, reflecting every-other-Saturday operations. Discussion on potentially opening every Saturday; administrator noted staffing and employee retention concerns. Recycling tonnages unchanged since reducing Saturday hours.

Administration (presented by Andre Guerin)

• Proposed budget $2,025,373 (+3.64% over FY27). Includes funding for a new Town Administrator position (current administrator retiring). Reorganization planned to elevate project coordinator to assist TA and oversee community development. Training and dues restored. Legal services increased to $125,000 (five-year average $123,951). Economic development memberships: no funding for Manchester Chamber; consideration of Hooksett Chamber.

Assessing

• Proposed budget $295,289 (+8.53% over FY27). Increase for assessor salary to attract candidates (currently lower end of market). Professional services line increased for temporary office help to support the existing clerk.

Community Development

• Budget covers planning/zoning and building inspection. Includes $15,000 to update traffic impact fees (last updated 2008). Planner hired (starting Sept 21). Town engineer position remains vacant; contract engineering used. Code enforcement: part-time officer requested to assist with building inspections and fire prevention overlap.

Finance (presented by finance director)

• Budget $395,641 (+21.58% over FY27). Main driver: part-time assistant finance director (30 hrs/week, 50 weeks, $60,000). Position intended to reduce risk, ensure redundancy, and provide accounting expertise (bachelor's degree required). Councilors expressed support; some questioned if salary is sufficient to attract candidates.

Budget Committee

• Budget $6,976, a reduction of $265 from FY27, primarily due to reduced part-time employee hours (20 meetings, 150 hours).

Debt Service (Leases)

• Two notes: TIF District (paid from TIF funds) and Safety Center renovations/fire engine. Payments decreasing as notes near maturity (TIF: 4 more payments; Safety Center: 3 more payments). No prepayment option without refinancing.

Key Outcomes

• No formal motions or votes taken. Council will continue budget review on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, covering Town Clerk, Library, Conservation Commission, Cemetery Commission, Police, Fire, and a list of proposed warrant articles.
• The council will consider making a motion to move the operating budget to the Budget Committee after all departments are reviewed.
• The road paving funding approach remains unresolved; a compromise of partial operating budget and partial warrant article is possible.