[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6189732,"mediaKeyId","5055201-2e0cb343a0b18afc209c7b4af4bbfbba","parentId",5055201,"title","Portsmouth Council adopts $149.9 million FY26 budget after heated public hearing; several amendment bids fail","audioSeconds",1451,"startMs",3871000,"endMs",5322000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055201-2e0cb343a0b18afc209c7b4af4bbfbba&start=3871&end=5322","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055201-2e0cb343a0b18afc209c7b4af4bbfbba/thumbnail_3871000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6189732/New-Hampshire/Portsmouth-Council-adopts-1499-million-FY26-budget-after-heated-public-hearing-several-amendment-bids-fail","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189732-87a745e942888ccfa262daa44f4691f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004232&Signature=imiCADtAEJ4MsKJ5KFeTZifOwLdf0V~cJtrAiYWxR6cvGJl46Ro7W7XqCWTzyMkahmlRbahyzHUoYR8DGyrSmecH83tV63DkTi9jqyEp9NU0UfabXY9b4doDiGSmyqwm~-vp7jybhuO19V6fhLFARhFe24VGC94Ne9KflpgdaRDfeoFbpVYo0tgf-CC8mD5t-oC9n4ripWv5QZIKen9RTjZYnOqEXrN0TuxTfL8OgBy9gF74Vjk72T76qOjcqKgOqUr9Qeyz-mtWwQo9U0HMu9JCN-VTfFRv6uJtDxGuL20KudowQK-O3UlOO1fF6FP8kmpMn5RcxaWkXrQzdAo6hA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-24T12:49:58.967Z","article","The Portsmouth City Council adopted the fiscal year 2026 general fund budget and related fund resolutions at its June 20 meeting, approving a $149,894,940 general fund total after a multi‑hour public hearing and extensive debate.

The council voted to adopt a package of budget‑related resolutions including municipal fees, general fund expenditures, the water fund and sewer fund budgets and several special fund and policy items. The council’s final approval of the general fund (Resolution 8‑2025) passed by roll call 7–2. The municipal fees resolution (Resolution 7‑2025), water fund (Resolution 9‑2025) and sewer fund (Resolution 10‑2025) each passed on roll call; several administrative and investment resolutions passed unanimously.

The meeting included three contested amendment motions introduced by Councilor Bagley that sought to reallocate funds without increasing the manager’s recommended overall total. Those amendment efforts failed:
- A motion to set the police department budget at the FY25 funding level (level‑funding rather than the manager’s proposed increase) failed on a roll call, 8–1 (only Councilor Bagley voted yes); the council discussed police overtime, minimum staffing at 70 officers, and whether salary savings and overtime practices were being clearly reported.
- A motion to increase the school department budget by $153,000 above the manager’s recommendation (to preserve counseling and paraeducator positions cited by some speakers) failed on a roll call, 4–5.
- A motion to increase the fire department budget by $112,000 to fund a training position also failed, 2–7.

Public comment before and during the hearing featured repeated concerns about taxes, utility rate increases and school spending. Residents cited recent property valuation increases and rising water and sewer rates; one commenter called on the council to seek voter approval before adding programs that affect taxes. School board members and parents urged continued investment in special‑education, counseling and early‑intervention staff. Byron Meadow, a school board member, emphasized the fiscal stakes of special‑education placements and said the positions included in the school budget are intended to reduce future outsized costs: “Fund the school board’s budget. Let’s keep Portsmouth learning, thriving, and leading because our children deserve nothing less,” Meadow said.

Other public commenters urged fiscal restraint and questioned whether positions added after COVID are sustainable amid enrollment declines; the transcript records alternate viewpoints from residents and school officials. School board members, the superintendent and other supporters described federal COVID funding that has expired and argued some positions were critical to sustain gains in student performance.

Council discussion also addressed parking policy and a proposed resident 15‑minute free parking session managed through the ParkMobile system. Public testimony and council staff (DPW Director Peter Rice and Parking Director Ben Fletcher) noted a projected direct revenue loss and operational impacts. Parking staff estimated that a single 15‑minute free session for registered residents could reduce meter and citation revenues and change parking turnover behavior; a conservative staff calculation supplied ahead of the public hearing estimated an approximate $300,000 fiscal impact and warned about inventory and short‑term transaction behavior that could increase congestion—which staff said would be difficult to manage until additional inventory is created.

Roll‑call votes were recorded for the principal resolutions. Highlights: Resolution 7‑2025 (Municipal Fees) passed unanimously; Resolution 8‑2025 (General Fund Expenditures) passed 7–2 (Yes: Assistant Mayor Kelly; Councilor Tabor; Councilor Denton; Councilor Blaylock; Councilor Moreau; Councilor Lombardi; Mayor McCaffery. No: Councilor Cook; Councilor Bagley). Resolution 9‑2025 (Water Fund) and Resolution 10‑2025 (Sewer Fund) passed unanimously; Resolutions 11‑2025 and 12‑2025 (special revenues and investment policy) also passed unanimously.

Council members and staff noted next steps: additional hearings and implementation items will move through administrative channels, and several budget items (including any supplemental appropriations the police department may later request) could be revisited mid‑year if salary‑savings and overtime variances require adjustments. Bonding items and second‑reading ordinance items will follow established notice periods; the council also scheduled additional discussion of parking‑inventory issues and the ParkMobile resident‑session proposal ahead of any program changes.

The council concluded the meeting after approving related administrative items and taking several additional staff requests under advisement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6.23.2025 City Council","oneSentenceSummary","Following public comment on taxes, schools and parking, the Portsmouth City Council approved the FY26 general fund budget and related fund resolutions June 20. Multiple councilor amendments to change police, school and fire funding failed; the general fund resolution passed 7–2 with a roll‑call vote.","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},6189737,"Portsmouth Council renames skatepark for community leader Chris Rice",1351,1527000,2878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055201-2e0cb343a0b18afc209c7b4af4bbfbba&start=1527&end=2878","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055201-2e0cb343a0b18afc209c7b4af4bbfbba/thumbnail_1527000.jpg","/articles/6189737/New-Hampshire/Portsmouth-Council-renames-skatepark-for-community-leader-Chris-Rice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189737-7be11b67837bd68334c13aa33fdd0015/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004232&Signature=KMRTcMcalSsmJ~f~pmbR48iRT3ut-oQiij~9btyewKQ0V~ZAo-GbW0rDmsvhZ9dflOcYO~8yWlB3y0jDELnPpjPvYw6edkxhrcO75MT69Z6bmBBf4FY7TVb5yoZ~Pa4j~XfhEMtkteD0YuahISHpwYti3skZhv9uloLhvgEQPWS0eaT6qFCJbFTlcXQvjUPq15W2FxQ5-CJkgcWieIStFoziGbQcS1s72-ye1ZnywFEyUoWJ4S-b2Y-TuUHrgEk2sluGENOFUB4Pg3iJKCLB1nkfj7UkHvRr9SVzF3hW1DwB2niw56KZ5lLGZZXDZbqgSbrdt5g9OTMIj854IVTl4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portsmouth City Council voted unanimously June 20 to rename the city skatepark the Chris Rice Skateboard Park, honoring a longtime local skateboard advocate who helped build and sustain the community around the park.

Friends, family and skaters told the council during an extended public comment period that Chris Rice ran a local skate shop, organized fundraising and took a hands‑on role in designing and maintaining the park. Supporters said renaming the facility would preserve Rice’s legacy of mentoring youth and building community.

Speakers at City Hall described Rice as a mentor and organizer who lobbied for years for a dedicated park, donated time and materials and stayed involved in maintenance. “Chris had a passion for skateboarding. He had a passion for kids that were interested, and he would do anything to help kids,” said Allory Lane, who said Rice gave her son his first job. Esther Kennedy, a former councilor, urged the council to use the specific name “skateboard” in the title because Rice objected to the broader term “skate park.” Dave Colesgrove urged the council to consider Rice’s decades of work, listing fundraising, construction oversight and community outreach he said Rice led. Ian Coughlin, who said he owns a skate shop that followed Rice’s legacy, and multiple other speakers described the skate shop as a community hub rather than merely a business.

Councilors moved to suspend the rules to take up the Recreation Board’s recommendation and to consider the renaming on the June 20 agenda. Councilor Bagley made a motion, on behalf of the Recreation Board, requesting the city council rename the Portsmouth Skatepark the Chris Rice Skatepark; the motion was amended on the floor to include the word “Skateboard” and read as the Chris Rice Skateboard Park to reflect supporters’ request. The amendment was presented by Councilor Bagley as a friendly amendment reflecting family preferences.

Council members then took a roll‑call vote. Assistant Mayor Kelly cast the first affirmative vote; the final tally recorded the motion as unanimous. The clerk read the roll: Assistant Mayor Kelly — Yes; Councilor Tabor — Yes; Councilor Cook — Yes; Councilor Denton — Yes; Councilor Blaylock — Yes; Councilor Bagley — Yes; Councilor Moreau — Yes; Councilor Lombardi — Yes; Mayor McCaffery — Yes. Councilors present recounted letters and a petition supporting the renaming; none reported opposition in the council chamber.

The council also agreed to work with the family on the formal naming signage and any programmatic recognition. No additional budgetary appropriation specifically for signage was detailed during the motion; councilors said staff would follow up on logistics and the family’s preferences.

Supporters who spoke noted Rice’s work spanned design, fundraising, shop operations and day‑to‑day care of the park. “He spearheaded the construction of a DIY park in town. He donated merchandise, sweat equity, his expertise in design,” Dave Colesgrove said. Ian Coughlin added that Rice’s shop functioned as a meeting place and mentor space for many young people and that naming the park would continue his local role as a community touchstone.

The council approved the renaming by unanimous vote and scheduled the sign and formal dedication details to be worked out with staff and the Rice family.","After public comments from dozens of skaters, family and business owners, the Portsmouth City Council voted unanimously June 20 to rename the city skatepark the Chris Rice Skateboard Park, honoring a decades‑long local advocate for skateboarding and youth programming.","actionData","errors"]

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Portsmouth Council adopts $149.9 million FY26 budget after heated public hearing; several amendment bids fail

Portsmouth Council renames skatepark for community leader Chris Rice