Manchester aldermen approve $400,000 CBSD collection rate, refer First Amendment Coalition suggestions to committee; finance forecast shows $1.308 million FY25‑

At a meeting of the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen, members voted to set the Central Business Special District (CBSD) collection rate at $400,000, referred recommended changes to the board’s public‑comment rule from the New England First Amendment Coalition to the administration committee, and received a city finance forecast projecting a $1,308,000 general‑fund operating surplus for fiscal year 2025.

The CBSD request drew the most discussion. Jody, a CBSD representative, told the board the district had expanded its street‑team program and staffing to extend services beyond the downtown core. She said the street team grew “from 2 elderly employees to 6 employees that were operating in a 6 day work week,” and that the district had adopted a grid to distribute cleanup work across neighborhoods rather than repeatedly servicing a small downtown area. “They were able to beef that up from 5 days to 6 days,” Jody said, adding the district is beginning to create heat maps to track pickups and problem areas so other city departments can be notified.

Aldermen moved to approve the CBSD advisory board’s request to adjust the collection rate to $400,000 and leave district boundaries unchanged. The motion, moved by Alderman Fajardo and seconded by Alderman Long, carried on a voice vote.

City finance staff presented the fiscal‑year‑2025 forecast. Sharon, a finance staff member, said the current projected general‑fund operating surplus is $1,308,000, made up of a…