Nashua Board of Aldermen Budget Meeting – June 23, 2026

The Nashua Board of Aldermen convened on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber. The meeting focused on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget, with extended debate over employee raises, a million-dollar budget cut, and a final passage that required multiple votes. The meeting also included public comments on homelessness, housing, and the budget, as well as votes on several resolutions and ordinances.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes of the regular Board of Aldermen meeting of June 10, 2026, were accepted and placed on file.
• Communications were accepted and placed on file, including: a referral from the Planning Manager on zoning map amendment O-26-013; a communication from the Business and Industrial Development Authority regarding a development proposal for Pine Street Extension; and a communication from the President of the Board of Education regarding resolution R 26-044.
• A three-year contract with Wastewater Management of New Hampshire for biosolids management at the wastewater treatment facility was approved (amount not to exceed $3,894,000). The motion carried 12–0.
• A contract to purchase four Dodge Ram ProMaster ADA accessible buses from Model 1 Commercial Vehicles Inc. was approved (amount not to exceed $1,828,000). The motion carried 12–0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Bob Keating (Five Coburn Woods Drive): Spoke in support of funding to address homelessness, noting that $1,000 per month can house a chronically homeless person and that the city has about 40 chronically homeless individuals. He urged the board to prioritize housing.
• Gary Hoffman (38 Perham Street, President of the Nashua Teachers Union): Spoke in favor of the secretary contract (R 26-044), explaining that the contract provides a 4% grid increase in year one, 3% in years two and three, and moves from a five-step to a nine-step schedule. He noted that clerical workers make around $35,000–$40,000 per year, so a 4% raise is approximately $1,000–$1,200, far less than the $78,000 raises mentioned earlier, and that health insurance is rising 13%.
• Lori Ortolano (Nashua): Expressed opposition to the budget, criticizing management salaries and the difficulty in recruiting qualified management. She supported raises for unaffiliated employees, particularly lower-level workers, but opposed large raises for top executives making $167,000. She also requested an update on city plans for a homeless resource center.
• Fred Troom (Nashua): Criticized the budget process, stating that the budget committee cut only $115,000 out of a $384 million general fund (less than 0.03%). He noted that the tax rate increase would be about 8%, which is $22.5 million more than last year. He also pointed out an apparent $6.9 million deficit in the enterprise fund and questioned the spending cap.
• Stephen Scare and Beth Scare (Nashua): During general public comment, they spoke about gender ideology and a flag lawsuit, respectively. The board did not engage in discussion.

Discussion Items

• Mayor's Remarks: Mayor Jim Donchis noted that Nashua was ranked fifth best-run city in the U.S. (up from previous years in the top five) based on cost vs. quality of services. He discussed the budget, urging the board not to cut economic development (Nashua has 1.5 staff, while Lowell has 10 and Manchester has 4.5). He opposed the budget committee's recommendation to give the fire department unaffiliated employees a raise while excluding other unaffiliated employees, arguing for an "all or nothing" approach. He noted that the fire chief got a 20% raise and assistant chiefs got 15% last year.
• Unaffiliated Employee Raises: Extensive debate occurred over a budget committee amendment that provided $11,000 to fire department unaffiliated employees. Alderman Clee initially moved to remove that amendment to pave the way for a broader amendment covering all unaffiliated employees, but later amended her motion to restore the $11,000 and add $404,617 for all other unaffiliated employees. The amendment passed 9–4.
• $1 Million Cut to Administrative Services: Alderman Johnson moved to reduce administrative services by $1 million across the board. The motion failed 2–11, with opponents arguing the cut would lead to staff layoffs or closure of facilities like the Arlington Street Community Center.
• Body Camera Funding: Alderwoman Kelly moved to reduce the body camera line item by $900,000, arguing the cost was a 400% increase. The motion failed 1–12 after Director Cummings explained the $900,000 is the first-year cost of a new contract (including implementation), with subsequent years dropping to $600,000–$700,000.
• Budget Passage and Reconsideration: The initial vote on the amended budget failed 6–7. After a five-minute recess, Alderwoman Kelly made a motion for final passage of the same amended budget. Alderman Dowd then moved a further amendment to reduce the budget by $10,083 (records digitization savings), which passed unanimously. The final budget (as amended) then passed 9–4, with nine votes required for passage (two-thirds of members present and voting).
• Bicentennial School Roof Funding (R-26-044): A resolution to use up to $1,670,985 of unexpended bond proceeds from five school building projects to fund the Bicentennial School roof replacement. Passed 12–1.
• Lease Agreement with Drop Bike Corp (R-26-045): Authorized a lease at 117 Elm Street (Elm Street Middle School cafeteria) to serve as a maintenance facility for the bike-share program through October 15, 2026. Passed 13–0.
• Zoning Map Amendment (O-26-013): Rezoned land along Northeastern Boulevard and Industrial Park Drive from Park Industrial to Highway Business (HB). Passed 13–0.

Key Outcomes

• FY2027 Budget (R-26-028): Adopted as amended. The final budget increased by $57,532 over the mayor's proposed budget. The tax rate increase is estimated at about 8%. The vote was 9–4 (nine yes, four no).
• Police Supervisors Association Agreement (R-26-040): Approved cost items of three sidebar agreements. Vote 12–1.
• Secretaries Union Contract (R-26-041): Approved cost items of the collective bargaining agreement with the Nashua Teachers Union (Unit C Secretaries) for July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029. Vote 12–1.
• Discontinuance of Expendable Trust Funds (R-26-039): Approved. Vote 13–0.
• Drop Bike Corp Lease (R-26-045): Approved. Vote 13–0.
• Bicentennial School Roof Funding (R-26-044): Approved. Vote 12–1.
• Zoning Map Amendment (O-26-013): Approved. Vote 13–0.
• New Business – First Readings: R-26-046 (surplus property sale) referred to Infrastructure Committee; R-26-047 (NIMCO site development agreement) referred to Finance Committee and BIDA; R-26-048 (supplemental appropriation) referred to Budget Review Committee with a public hearing scheduled for July 27, 2026; O-26-018 (public comment time limits) referred to Personnel/Administrative Affairs Committee; O-26-019 (Environmental Health Department review fees) referred to Planning and Economic Development Committee with a public hearing on July 21, 2026.
• Appointment: Marnie Gordon was appointed to the Historic District Commission (term to expire July 16, 2029), referred to the Personnel/Administrative Affairs Committee.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 11:03 p.m.