Hooksett Budget Committee Meeting - October 8, 2026: FY2728 Budget Review and Discussion

The Hooksett Budget Committee met on October 8, 2026, at 11:30 AM to review the Town Council's recommended FY2728 budget, presented by Town Administrator Andre Garrin. The meeting covered a detailed overview of the $22.6 million proposed budget, a 1.3% increase over the default budget, and included discussions on health insurance, staffing, road paving, revenues, and department-level budgets. No final votes were taken on the budget itself, but a motion to approve prior meeting minutes was passed.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes from the September 17, 2026 meeting, with a spelling correction ("Spitzer" corrected from "Stitzer"). The motion passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Flowers Giveaway: A committee member (Smith) announced that she and another member grew flowers and invited everyone to take some home before the freeze. No other public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Budget Overview: Andre Garrin presented the FY2728 proposed budget totaling $22.6 million in expenditures, a 1.3% increase over the FY2627 default budget of $22.3 million. The increase was originally 1.24% but was amended by the Town Council to 1.3% after adding $11,669 for a market analysis adjustment for six part-time salaries. Revenue is projected at $8.2 million, a 5.39% increase over the prior year's $7.8 million. A solar field project on the former landfill is expected to generate $143,500 annually (split between town and school) after expenses, though committee members expressed uncertainty about the guarantee.
• Road Paving: The proposed budget does not include $600,000 for road paving that was funded annually via a special warrant article from 2022 through FY2627. The town plans to seek voter approval again via a warrant article to continue the resurfacing program. Without that funding, the total expenditure would have been $23.2 million (a 3.94% increase).
• Health Insurance: The budget initially factored in a 12% increase for health insurance (about $703,909 based on prior costs), but the town recently learned that health care costs will actually decrease by 2% and dental costs increase by 1.9%. This 14% swing will open up budget discussions. Committee members requested detailed dollar amounts and the number of employees on each plan (100% town-paid, co-share, high deductible) to better understand the impact.
• Staffing Positions: The number of full-time positions remains unchanged at 127. The budget proposes unfreezing three frozen positions: one firefighter, one police officer, and one DPW truck driver. It also requests two part-time positions: a code enforcement officer and an assistant finance director. Discussion centered on whether the town's tax base should fund these positions or whether building permit fees could be increased to generate revenue. Last time a full-time assistant finance director was requested (via warrant article), voters rejected it due to the price tag, so a part-time approach is now used.
• Building Permit Fees: Several committee members questioned why building permit fees have not been increased to help pay for the part-time code enforcement officer. They argued that the town is likely below market rates compared to similar communities like Manchester or Bedford, and that higher fees would not deter builders. Town Administrator Garrin said the fees were last reviewed a couple of years ago and he will check with community development.
• Revenues and Solid Waste Fund: Recycling and transfer station revenues (estimated at $150,000–$180,000 per year) go into a solid waste disposal fund, not the general fund, and can only be used via separate warrant article. That fund was intended to help build a new transfer station facility, but the warrant article failed by a slight margin.
• Default Budget: The committee briefly discussed the new state statute that makes the budget committee responsible for preparing and approving the default budget. The Town Administrator noted that the statute does not preclude the town from preparing it, and he will provide the slide deck from an NHMA workshop to help the committee understand the process.
• Department Reviews: Administration Department (proposed $2,026,537, up 3.7%): Includes salary for a new town administrator, reorganization of project coordinator to assistant town administrator, and reinstated funding for the Hooksettites ($4,000) and Old Home Day ($5,000). Assessing Department (proposed $295,289, up 8.53%): Primarily due to salary for assessor (vacant); contractor from Granite Hills is currently providing services. A warrant article for a statistical revaluation (needed by 2028) will be forthcoming. Community Development (proposed $700,517, up 8.12%): Includes $15,000 to update traffic impact fee rates (last updated 2008), part-time code enforcement officer, and hiring of a new planner (Avery Oakland).

Key Outcomes

• The committee decided to add the Tax Collector (Kim) to the schedule for a future meeting.
• The default budget discussion will be added to a future meeting agenda.
• Members were encouraged to send questions for upcoming department heads (Library, Police) to Lee Ann by email.
• A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting; it passed unanimously.