Seabrook reviews proposed $52 million FY2025–26 budget; council gives direction on stipends, events and capital needs

Seabrook City Council held a special workshop on Tuesday, July 22 to review the draft fiscal year 2025–26 budget, which staff said covers roughly $52 million across all funds. City staff gave an overview of revenue assumptions, major cost drivers and a list of decision packages for council consideration; councilmembers discussed training stipends, event funding and capital and maintenance priorities and agreed on next steps.

The budget presentation, given by city staff, emphasized that property tax and sales tax are the largest general‑fund revenue sources, with staff saying property tax accounts for about 44.6% and sales tax about 15.4% of general fund revenue. Staff reported gross property valuations of roughly $2.0 billion and an estimated taxable base of about $1.9 billion; projected property tax revenue for the general fund was shown at about $6.9 million for the coming year. The staff presentation also showed a required emergency reserve equal to 25% of the general fund (about $3.7 million) and an overall reserve position that staff described as healthy given Seabrook’s coastal disaster exposure.

Gail (staff member), who led the presentation, highlighted staff work: "Mike and Kat did a ton of work," and described reserves as a precaution in case of disasters and delays in federal…