[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-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",[32,75,87,99,109],{"_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":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6221892,"mediaKeyId","3611081-e94fdbc2150390c46efed50afa6e2f6c","parentId",3611081,"title","DPW director and finance staff explain higher use of water/sewer net position; rate model update planned","audioSeconds",986,"startMs",1481000,"endMs",2467000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611081-e94fdbc2150390c46efed50afa6e2f6c&start=1481&end=2467","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611081-e94fdbc2150390c46efed50afa6e2f6c/thumbnail_1481000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6221892/New-Hampshire/DPW-director-and-finance-staff-explain-higher-use-of-watersewer-net-position-rate-model-update-planned","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221892-61ff1d40f01243f4be3f585932fb09fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164088&Signature=HF8ShkvfUGTuG625jO~ybgAoJqSmqb691Wogd1WL1JAqaw-2Ro0kLnPM4SUDQ8F-9Wgt172tIZs9Wtvlfc7VK4~P772oRCSAp7Hr~Bz3wHGYC-MYzKRGkY4U9u~0bpydjz9O3W1gL5Il7HboZHiOrRgbUNvBEW~ZWh8bF3PjeRhXjGkVOcI5lEEMiMpugqpe1-Av~G-zFkTEL3pZY-S2XwFILgJJ1q1ohUupztdIcpgNio1fcqQnFNqU7g7di1-vWvZSIuPUukekao1E1FgpZ5ZkJHPhXakXQjQD5QT-ttWsHOuCnPxWbDnnSMqhVuYrfY4ewN9~wapKpI09KSklrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-29T12:20:20Z","article","Public Works Director Peter Rice and Finance Director Nathan Lenny addressed council questions about water and sewer finances at the May 28 work session, explaining why use of net position (fund balance) is higher in the proposed FY26 plan.

Rice said the city operates two water and two wastewater plants, maintains reservoir and wellhead protection and performs many functions in‑house (collection, tree audits, parking operations) that other communities contract. He argued the in‑house model yields operational benefits during emergencies and provides value beyond raw cost comparisons.

Finance staff explained the primary drivers for elevated FY26 use of fund balance on the sewer side: consumption projections did not realize the growth staff had previously budgeted, and the city may lose a large wholesale water customer (Anheuser‑Busch), reducing projected consumption. Lenny said the city reduced planned water rate requests from 6% to 4% in recognition of household affordability concerns, and that staff will update the rate model and present options to council this summer.

Why it matters: water and sewer revenues are consumption driven; lower than expected throughput reduces operating revenue and increases reliance on fund balance. Lenny said staff will bring a rate‑model update and options for addressing distribution of costs across year‑round and seasonal users.

Ending: staff committed to begin a rate‑model review this summer and hold work sessions with the council to present options; no final rate change was adopted at the May 28 work session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5.28.2025 City Council Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Public works director Peter Rice and finance staff told councilors the increased use of water and sewer net position in FY26 reflects trued‑up consumption projections, a projected loss of a large wholesale customer and operating cost pressures; staff said a rate‑model review will start this summer.","taxTitle","Portsmouth City Council, Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire","taxId",68330,"location","New Hampshire","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6221895,"Fire chief seeks dedicated training role to expand prehospital capabilities; city staff say mutual‑aid billing roughly offsets runs",120,759000,879000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611081-e94fdbc2150390c46efed50afa6e2f6c&start=759&end=879","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611081-e94fdbc2150390c46efed50afa6e2f6c/thumbnail_759000.jpg","/articles/6221895/New-Hampshire/Fire-chief-seeks-dedicated-training-role-to-expand-prehospital-capabilities-city-staff-say-mutualaid-billing-roughly-offsets-runs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221895-4862b5303b9ba305e7da6e4e9641048b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164088&Signature=SnTox9N2GvFXZzOU1pMn8zb~z1bAW3MkSQDyzu9GrCak~FjkpdM0rErkwCO-QZcEPuy7vFaOwp686wih1~KYB2ZDmeAGL2v0mXbbOVPV-er21-f7isZtUQOdklnkhcnRMUGa98JzTV7c8QCP4n61yjTlabWsA-f6NQwt9J6cvK~jJ865TP17KhivYaeNFt7gVVJmtUiNy9d~3McRjIRaaZmpFRSx79kUKEECpKJZWVculkrGEySoDth1A1-036pdq-zY2DzCeZDV5jWi~q9joWgurZ-iaEAFJz22lMb0304Z~LEXFfkbKVSpZ9p5kY3rPRG6cz2wtJgzWlXA1iRpIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fire Chief Bill McClellan presented a proposal for a dedicated training position in the fire department at the May 28 work session, telling councilors the role would “increase our prehospital capabilities” and allow the department to implement advanced prehospital care and training partnerships with hospitals and the Department of Transportation.

McClellan said the position would support advanced interventions such as rapid sequence intubation and the use of blood and antibiotics in the field, and would also help with succession planning as long‑time staff retire. He added that the department wants to stand up a commercial‑driver‑license training site to manage certification and documentation for personnel and that freeing up office time for line supervisors is part of the rationale.

On mutual aid and cost recovery: McClellan told the council that, over recent reporting windows, mutual‑aid runs and the associated billing generally come out even or slightly ahead once revenue from billed transports is accounted for. He said the department can provide reports in different formats and that he can supply additional metrics at council request.

Next steps: Councilor Bagley said she is likely to make a motion at the June 9 meeting to add the training position and some school mental‑health positions. The city manager noted that the slide shown to council included salary and benefits estimates and that the full cost of adding several charter‑department requests would increase the proposed budget by just over $1 million if all were granted.

Ending: No formal action was taken on May 28; the proposal will be considered as part of the June 9 budget deliberations.","Fire Chief Bill McClellan asked the council to fund a new training position to expand prehospital capabilities, manage commercial driver's license training and help with succession planning; staff noted mutual‑aid runs typically bill and roughly break even for the city.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6221901,"Superintendent outlines special‑education costs, reimbursement tiers; school board seeks more staff for early intervention",251,1028000,1279000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611081-e94fdbc2150390c46efed50afa6e2f6c&start=1028&end=1279","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611081-e94fdbc2150390c46efed50afa6e2f6c/thumbnail_1028000.jpg","/articles/6221901/New-Hampshire/Superintendent-outlines-specialeducation-costs-reimbursement-tiers-school-board-seeks-more-staff-for-early-intervention","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221901-a1efc4311928cfa2b3094fa106c1d5fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164088&Signature=lFQZdKCxxplGfpw~JcUilNxqCh6ljjwpBV8jLVdSDSlz7y2YJBNRLnGQXfQ0wdC~touU5oOuteSW6JPsdsCYZPQSEME3xGy44XqLsRKC4ieIjCdW4ZNcVaWyS3TRfRfPSHEJYwDL7-XkboizQ4f3sUaM~Sc25B1c-9si0-CYoRBZMr~5KXofXzChfTYrkkiHInZWtt8I9-kjtRycKId0zdCXBQJJc8OIqbMCFOpJ~iOF97WcYpVOy~0aBh3R2aZWqkKaPtPAeoIBIMulyXU2YDdHotls7~F~NWIq7qXrQPP-kT7TqLvydjds-2NzVz7pL3mL-KGTh2ZLHHeHX1eIbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Zach (Dr. McLaughlin) explained special‑education cost drivers to the council on May 28 and urged investments in early prevention and district‑wide interventions to reduce out‑of‑district placements and long‑term costs.

The superintendent summarized how state reimbursements phase in: once a student’s out‑of‑district cost exceeds $75,000, the state reimburses at 80% of those excess costs, and at roughly $215,000 (about ten times average student cost) the state covers all additional costs beyond that point, he said. The district noted the practical problem that those reimbursements often arrive in the following fiscal year, complicating annual budgeting.

What the school asked for: the school board’s recommended request includes investments in special‑education staff, additional mental‑health resources and several paraprofessionals. Superintendent Zach said the school board’s prioritized list would start with positions tied to keeping students in district and expanding early‑grade interventions.

Funding and SAU 50 tuition: district officials explained that SAU 50 tuition and cost allocations are governed by the area agreement; the superintendent said clarifications were last made in February 2009 and that sending districts (for example Rye) have been discussing reopening aspects of the agreement in recent years. The superintendent also said some costs (for example, equipment dedicated to one sending district’s student) are excluded from the pooled tuition calculation, and otherwise costs are rolled into the combined high‑school budget and divided across the sending communities by per‑pupil calculation.

Numbers and next steps: the manager’s package includes two paraeducator positions while the school board requested five; school leaders labeled the remaining three as anticipatory positions tied to projected student needs. Councilors asked the superintendent and staff to provide counts and methodology for converting IEP‑driven hours into FTE equivalents; staff agreed to try to produce a two‑year snapshot and current‑year detail before the final vote.

Ending: No formal budget change was made on May 28. Councilors and the school department agreed to continue discussion and to reconcile line‑item control questions under the charter as they approach a June 9 vote.","Superintendent Zach (Dr. McLaughlin) told councilors the district projects some high per‑student special‑education costs that trigger state reimbursement and urged investment in early intervention and mental‑health supports; the school board seeks five paraeducators while the manager’s budget contains two.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":79,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":82,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6221906,"Police commission, chief at odds with manager’s cuts; staffing study flagged dispatch and records needs",4735,5494000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611081-e94fdbc2150390c46efed50afa6e2f6c&start=759&end=5494","/articles/6221906/New-Hampshire/Police-commission-chief-at-odds-with-managers-cuts-staffing-study-flagged-dispatch-and-records-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221906-9794454f96d75c5e6f762f3b1544dd44/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164088&Signature=CuE8nJmmgAdvk0LEwbHuUf8LL361JkGHdJvQxyLgl-0KWTDD1pBz5oKxaDTfNn6NKCPpbWOsPbfxsvOLbey3O4OvM64KEoxUUKH7St-Dv0mladQLs098TuNTo2u2cIkd3kJ3qbOHaNAqzO5k4N1uOaHiZGhTJG-KDYJevHOWKiBhN9eTmWKnuwBz0WoveXqp4YalfgD8dx-VjhDHtOpDHUzOuTmv0xUWULpAhRM6ahfCHrc83u8U8HpDP6Pn9iyI7G-1SxDKQhUp3N3pbjsBQHE6Y96yjJIoMRFQG1R3EWCrqGIXEG8EvVq0-ZZ0~BMwV9zxN~dhVA7gqfvB~tQouQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A recently completed staffing assessment and testimony from the police commission led commissioners and public speakers to press the council on May 28 not to accept cuts to patrol and dispatch proposed in the city manager’s budget.

Kate Coyle, police commission chair, told the council the consultant’s matrix study concluded the department is not overstaffed and identified “dispatch … [as a] critical need.” Coyle urged the council to meet the budget goal previously set for departments (2.9%) rather than accept the city manager’s lower increase that would eliminate sworn positions and one dispatcher.

Police Chief Newport responded to detailed questions about vacancies and overtime, saying the department is funded for 70 sworn officers and that it is short six officers at the time of the work session but has several hires in progress. “To meet those minimum staffing levels, almost on a daily basis, we are putting at least one overtime shift in,” Newport said, adding that some overtime results from mandatory coverage when open positions and absences coincide.

Why it matters: councilors expressed concern that cutting sworn positions or dispatch staffing could increase overtime costs, reduce retention and affect coverage as the city’s population and large‑event demands grow. Several public commenters, including Franchesca Marconi Furnall, a police commissioner, framed police staffing as essential: “Police are a necessity, not a want,” she said.

Data and next steps: councilors asked staff for current year overtime totals and the breakdown of overtime between sworn officers and other positions; staff agreed to provide the figures. The staffing study was paid for with consultant funds; commissioners noted that foregoing study recommendations would be counter to the report’s findings.

Outcome: no formal reductions were approved at the work session. Councilors and department leaders acknowledged they would revisit police staffing and budget figures at the June 9 meeting.","A consultant staffing assessment, police commissioners and the police chief said Portsmouth’s department is understaffed in key areas and should not face the reductions the city manager proposed; councilors requested more data on overtime and staffing trends before finalizing the budget.",{"_33":110,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":111,"_41":112,"_43":113,"_45":114,"_47":115,"_49":116,"_51":117,"_53":118,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":119,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":120,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6221911,"Portsmouth proposes $149.9 million FY26 budget; managers say tax rate would rise about 39¢",1743,250000,1993000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611081-e94fdbc2150390c46efed50afa6e2f6c&start=250&end=1993","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611081-e94fdbc2150390c46efed50afa6e2f6c/thumbnail_250000.jpg","/articles/6221911/New-Hampshire/Portsmouth-proposes-1499-million-FY26-budget-managers-say-tax-rate-would-rise-about-39","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221911-b053102542c988fb8dad465050c63755/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164088&Signature=IeBBIg4ehT8L9rzV5-7pCGhVQJq04nG4GAYU22xn2dfep2IoD3naSv2HuIH~DcLV9P90qk3db0gHsGLUVN-xRZ0rfPW1xrovGBljuyXAGL5TLmwWS6DpbyuNIHMThxmKgxcmMclfu60zdWdE8a9fmLKQFXX3w7Qai3NPavbD64pihLlusw79I03YP9zvoVNjk-zs3bumhqezs54c0Wl5QGdony5thB4wIYmb0TKLXluVCqC6p7iMJaHE-TGQUKuabUoDfjttbN2CMhrjDzKh3TTf5fZytsNRRx1pGQNToQ~u~q6~9cKc5bQnIEdsVyg6Qgv47~3YOwtye-66TQ5Q4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Manager Karen Conard presented the city’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at the May 28 work session, saying the plan “comes in at $149,894,940, an increase of just over $5,000,000 or 3.4% total,” and that it would translate to an estimated tax rate of $11.57, up $0.39 (3.49%).

The budget document is scheduled for final consideration at the council’s next regular meeting on June 9, Conard said. Finance staff framed FY26 as the first full year after most American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) support ends: “FY26 has to address a deficit in that regard of nearly $2,200,000,” Nathan Lenny said during the presentation.

Why it matters: the proposal would preserve core services while trimming staff, the manager said. Conard told councilors the package would reduce more than 15 full‑time equivalents across all departments, with over 10 coming from the general fund, and noted a multi‑year comparison showing the city’s average compounded budget growth below CPI and the Social Security index.

Most important facts: staff listed revenue offsets and pressures. Lenny identified several revenue increases that helped close the FY26 gap: an estimated $400,000 from building‑permit inspection fees, $300,000 from motor vehicle permits, $100,000 from ambulance fees and a combined $300,000 from school tuition and state revenues. He also said the budget assumes roughly 21% of city revenue comes from grants and generated revenues, about 2% from uses of fund balance and the remainder from property taxes.

Officials highlighted timing and technical assumptions. Lenny said county tax projections are still in process and that the city budget had conservatively projected 3% for county increases while early county projections are closer to 4%; he told the council the city’s share is driven by equalized valuation and that changes in Portsmouth’s equalized valuation can materially change the city’s share of county costs.

Context and tradeoffs: Conard and staff said the FY26 plan reflects a mixture of service preservation and restructuring, including an enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation intended to yield efficiencies over 12–18 months. Lenny also told councilors FY25 was the last year to rely on ARPA funding and that staff increased use of unassigned fund balance by about $1 million to help smooth FY26’s revenue shortfall.

What was not decided: Councilors asked multiple department heads detailed questions; several councilors signaled they may propose budget adjustments at the June 9 meeting. No formal vote or adoption took place at the May 28 work session.

Ending note: staff committed to provide additional detail requested by councilors—examples included updated overtime figures for public safety, detailed IEP/paraeducator counts from the school department and a rate‑model update for water and sewer this summer.","City Manager Karen Conard and finance staff presented a $149,894,940 proposed FY26 budget that would increase the tax rate by an estimated $0.39 (3.49%) and reduce more than 15 FTEs across departments; city officials emphasized timing, revenue assumptions and the end of ARPA funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DPW director and finance staff explain higher use of water/sewer net position; rate model update planned

Fire chief seeks dedicated training role to expand prehospital capabilities; city staff say mutual‑aid billing roughly offsets runs

Superintendent outlines special‑education costs, reimbursement tiers; school board seeks more staff for early intervention

Police commission, chief at odds with manager’s cuts; staffing study flagged dispatch and records needs

Portsmouth proposes $149.9 million FY26 budget; managers say tax rate would rise about 39¢