[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6227941,"mediaKeyId","3478364-8f1eb93f9f3f02e50296ff7c26ab1117","parentId",3478364,"title","Finance director outlines Munis upgrade, IT needs, TIF balances and rising welfare costs","audioSeconds",3734,"startMs",3033000,"endMs",6767000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3478364-8f1eb93f9f3f02e50296ff7c26ab1117&start=3033&end=6767","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3478364-8f1eb93f9f3f02e50296ff7c26ab1117/thumbnail_3033000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6227941/New-Hampshire/Finance-director-outlines-Munis-upgrade-IT-needs-TIF-balances-and-rising-welfare-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227941-c4f891753cc13ee96b6db21cdcdfc7a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771122348&Signature=QpfCzIlsZFfu5yE4DJwfJ9vkriQ~5yJrXJPMiI0HlJH5jL04NTIsi6l0bxmBqq~wPutnklv8Ckm80-S5JdpryBdXfbOplN8-MRMfU-8Fc5Wv88AOVR10g1jRNKLtmvUubE1-j8vJVgwioCjPCg8htjUAouBepj5~0kWKAaR97WdbMq0kQ4YwhVcsOVkNZRMP4mmtLg4fc4pyLTvVQUIhplSqUmEqqFspK1NlCaINrKJop1K58Oe24nImonHCfzzrvmNyoAZFLRAhYvB-8JuunXL5w0CtZ-QKbFunVMiDQpj7XTdbC2xpYYY0qc0enIWzyIKLBy4AZSGSMsmpJKbKPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Laconia NH","date","2025-05-24T01:00:55.26Z","article","Finance Director Glenn Smith told the Laconia City Council on May 20 that the city plans to replace its legacy budget and accounting spreadsheets with Tyler Technologies’ Munis system and that IT, licensing and cybersecurity costs are growing as the city expands digital services.

Smith said the new integrated financial system will replace a collection of interconnected spreadsheets that have been used for decades, and while the city‑wide go‑live date will come after implementation work, the change is expected to streamline accounting, budgeting, asset management and related workflows. He said the Munis deployment is for the city’s general fund and administrative systems; the water department and other enterprise funds may opt in later.

On information technology, Smith said IT staffing is limited (two staff, with one absent for a recent period), licensing and renewal costs increased about $45,000 in the current proposal, and the city contracted a web‑accessibility consultant (~$12,000) to make the website ADA compliant by the April 2027 deadline. He told council the city has invested significant grant funding in cybersecurity over recent years (roughly $200,000 in grant‑funded cybersecurity efforts) and that critical SCADA cybersecurity projects were grant aided.

Smith summarized TIF finances: Downtown TIF’s maximum increment is roughly $483,000 with a recommended increment of $325,000 to cover existing obligations (including a 2015 bond and Colonial theater fee); the downtown TIF balance is being reduced gradually from over $1 million a few years ago to an estimated ~$714,000 at the end of the coming fiscal year. Lakeport and Weirs TIF districts were summarized similarly: Lakeport with modest balances and a recommended increment around $75,000 for promenade work; Weirs with a large maximum increment (over $1 million) and recommended increment of $230,000 to cover the 2016 Lakeside Avenue bond and the recently approved docks bond.

On grants, Smith listed recurring, anticipated police grants (DWI, speed‑enforcement and equipment grants) totaling about $77,000 with a local match of roughly $13,000. He said anticipated grants shown in the budget are limited to recurring, short‑term grants rather than long‑lead federal/state project grants, which the city will add later when awards are final.

Finally, Smith reviewed welfare trends: vouchers and shelter costs are up markedly. He said the department issued 248 vouchers in the prior year and 253 so far in the current fiscal period, and the average cost per voucher is now about $759 — driven largely by motel/hotel placements because shelter beds are full at local facilities. Smith said the city coordinates with regional partners (CAP, Isaiah’s, other social service providers) to limit direct cash payouts but warned that state or federal changes to benefits could increase city welfare costs.

Ending: Smith said staff will return with implementation timelines for the Munis migration, details on IT staffing and licensing, and updated TIF and grant entries as awards are finalized; councilors asked for follow‑up on bonding capacity and the city’s remaining borrowing capacity.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Budget Meeting 5/20/25","oneSentenceSummary","Finance Director Glenn Smith briefed the council on a planned transition to Tyler (Munis) financial software, increasing IT licensing and ADA website work, TIF district increments and a sharp rise in welfare shelter costs driven by limited shelter capacity.","taxTitle","Laconia City Council, Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire","taxId",68580,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227946,"Planning department seeks $100,000 master plan, project manager and clearer impact‑fee rules as development rises",2542,2118000,4660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3478364-8f1eb93f9f3f02e50296ff7c26ab1117&start=2118&end=4660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3478364-8f1eb93f9f3f02e50296ff7c26ab1117/thumbnail_2118000.jpg","/articles/6227946/New-Hampshire/Planning-department-seeks-100000-master-plan-project-manager-and-clearer-impactfee-rules-as-development-rises","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227946-94e1095a084145b6828eec1adeb6ffff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771122348&Signature=UOL9KPLlPYGmByKLzGmPffdox1voNhMvU4akdvKm-TyA4XSt8hLuE2e6l7r5Obbk10ivaucCm59G6zYTxtD8iF20qlKScLK1M1p9RukbovVHZjMhWeBeSx4X1OFP-RFQsoHeUqSfDdgKNk4R4eE-la~CVgpNijWbtyAKuhV3yzxlQRf-sBiZNTCO74Kbk6ueH9XsBlcEUirUU35ZRudZir2Q9FpnKk9XTifB5LEXh1aezzVAz90vxuf~KrLt3i8qQTxKmCK5TvZV8OCXYTEzEWAZoTvHPvKHpRKCz4B1YORVgAmms02sFo7gPPk~TKJp5TMp9LG9WsxygpBmL5~09A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning Director (presenters identified in the record as Rob and Tyler) told the Laconia City Council on May 20 that the planning department is fully staffed after recent hires, is requesting $100,000 for a master plan, and is seeking resources to add a project manager and other staffing to handle rising development activity.

Rob (planning staff) said the master plan, if funded, would include chapters on housing, economic development, energy, transportation, natural hazards and implementation; the department recommended a $100,000 contract for consulting work and public engagement. He said the impact‑fee study is nearly complete and will return to planning board and council; staff expect final numbers in June and plan to propose clear waiver language so planning board decisions on waivers can be measured and tracked.

Planning staff described a marked increase in development applications: fiscal year 2025 approvals include 13 single‑family units and 207 multifamily units to date, of which 16 units were identified as workforce housing. Tyler (planning analyst) summarized market research showing wide ranges in home values and rental listings from third‑party sites and recommended the city carry out a housing needs assessment tailored to Laconia. The Lakes Region Planning Commission’s projection (as summarized by staff) estimates a need of approximately 1,180 housing units for Laconia by 2040 (about 59 units per year from 2020–2040); staff said city‑specific analysis would be preferable.

Rob argued for a dedicated project manager “boots on the ground” to manage large projects such as the state school redevelopment, coordinate inspections and mitigation measures with public works and the water department, and act as a single point of contact for developers; the budget includes funding to cover six months of that position if council approves. Councilors asked staff for an impact‑fee revenue forecast for the next four years to help the council evaluate whether impact fees could be used in advance to help fund staffing or capital needs during construction phases; staff agreed to produce a short report.

On zoning and regulatory work, staff said they expect an impact‑fee study completion in June, were moving short‑term lodging and other zoning changes through planning board, and proposed merging the Heritage Commission and Historic District Commission. Staff also noted several active and proposed projects (including the Bank of New Hampshire project, 911 call center, deck expansion at T Bones, the state school overall development plan in TRC review, and additional docks and campsites in the Weirs district).

Ending: Councilors asked planning staff to provide an inventory of existing housing stock by unit type and a four‑year impact‑fee revenue forecast; staff said they would deliver the requested data and return with the impact‑fee and master plan materials for public hearings.","Planning staff told the council they want $100,000 for a master plan, a project manager position (six months funding in the draft budget) and clearer impact‑fee waiver guidance as the city sees growing multifamily approvals and large projects such as the state school redevelopment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227950,"Laconia water department presents balanced budget, proposes drawing $368,000 from reserves",765,513000,1278000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3478364-8f1eb93f9f3f02e50296ff7c26ab1117&start=513&end=1278","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3478364-8f1eb93f9f3f02e50296ff7c26ab1117/thumbnail_513000.jpg","/articles/6227950/New-Hampshire/Laconia-water-department-presents-balanced-budget-proposes-drawing-368000-from-reserves","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227950-36a99a84284f0553ce52610c6f1391e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771122348&Signature=n7PFvXouaNbbZ9nOSEKa1K59j2FR-7VuTKV~mrKZm~WL4sGw49Cr~czJvr3kxRIUQmGYq2is8VS9DLM-psQdRtXPnvhhD5Bls5MRgzVIzK8CAWdKV2AQKpB7jJD-cOo7k4MRX7WGrUEYp6Iqq3qdKICK7iQBUf0FY6YGVfSvSwFd42voAkrl5aiX4csRQ1uhhQu1H7DIZ3x9DKn06uK2Lij2JsikAwxopNEGV1LXBoA98wRzpuQ2eMYyJzXsZ0xLub5PU1totRD7olHOEfTBNKVQ7hLt8EW9an2hKF9OrducKlpeJIwWalNg2vQ5lCI86QRoCpvNiJS65j594F0b5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ben Crawford, superintendent of the water department, told the Laconia City Council on May 20 that the department’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget would rely on water revenues and reserves and would need a $368,000 transfer from savings to balance operations.

Crawford said the department is an enterprise fund and runs entirely on water billing and related fees; water billing accounts for roughly two-thirds of projected income, about $2.8 million of a roughly $4.0 million budget. He described revenues as up about 7.8% from the prior year, in part because the city added about 120 customer units, while consumption per unit has not risen substantially.

Crawford outlined expense pressures that drove the request: an 11% increase in salaries tied to closing staffing vacancies, a roughly 23% rise in distribution and main‑maintenance costs after an unusually high number of main breaks last winter, and a roughly 15% increase in medical insurance costs tied to changes in retiree coverage and HealthTrust’s winding down. He told council the department is evaluating joining the city’s Harvard Pilgrim/SchoolCare plan and expects the change could add about $100,000 to the water department’s costs if adopted.

On reserves and cash-on-hand, Crawford said the water department is holding about $1.8 million in its checking account (roughly six months of operating expenses) and about $500,000 in savings; capital reserves sit near $400,000. He warned that routine capital projects can deplete reserves quickly, citing a recent Weirs Boulevard pipe project that cost about $400,000. Councilors asked staff to provide benchmarking for “months of operating cash” best practices for an enterprise fund so the commission and council can evaluate whether current reserves are appropriate or whether some funds could be redeployed.

Crawford summarized the department’s capital requests: a capital budget around $747,000 (as drafted at the commission level), including items such as pressure‑reducing valve replacements, a Weirs station generator (about $80,000), chlorine analyzers, Knox boxes for station access, a proposed fiber run to join the city server (~$46,000) and a $50,000 program to buy meters eligible for automated reading as part of a multi‑year meter‑upgrade plan. He said one meter trial (cellular reads) is underway for a small development and that a broader citywide rollout would mean substantial upfront costs but would allow more precise leak detection and reduce manual reading costs over time.

On cybersecurity and SCADA, Crawford said the department took systems offline during the COVID period and has maintained an “air gap” architecture for SCADA, with three upgraded, redundant SCADA computers paid for by a cybersecurity grant (project cost about $43,000, with about $33,000 from the state). He said the system now can be made remote if IT hardens firewalls and other protections, but the department currently requires on‑site control for system start/stop.

Crawford and councilors discussed rate timing: the water commission is considering a rate review and potential increase and would follow the board and council’s public‑hearing timetable if a change is proposed; the commission discussed voting on a rate action in July for a January 1 implementation, which Crawford said was the prior cycle’s timing.

Crawford closed by noting two upcoming retirements on the department payroll (a foreman and the controller), a planned job posting for a financial analyst and continued efforts to align benefits and IT with the city to reduce duplicated costs.

Ending: Councilors asked staff for follow‑up data (best‑practice cash‑on‑hand benchmarks, implications for a rate review, and the exact composition of reserves) before final approval; Crawford said the commission will present the final proposal and any rate recommendations to the council in future hearings.","Superintendent Ben Crawford told the Laconia City Council the water department’s FY26 budget would rely on $368,000 from savings to balance operations amid rising expenses, with plans for minor capital work and potential rate review later this year.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Finance director outlines Munis upgrade, IT needs, TIF balances and rising welfare costs

Planning department seeks $100,000 master plan, project manager and clearer impact‑fee rules as development rises

Laconia water department presents balanced budget, proposes drawing $368,000 from reserves