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Council transfers $30,000 to cover welfare department budget shortfall
Summary
The council approved transferring $30,000 from general government reserves to the welfare department to cover higher salary and benefit costs tied to converting a part‑time welfare administrator position to full time.
MERRIMACK, N.H. — The Town Council approved a $30,000 transfer from the general government account to the welfare department to cover an anticipated year‑end shortfall caused by converting a part‑time welfare administrator position to full time.
Town staff explained longtime part‑time welfare administrator Pat Murphy retired in January and the town hired a full‑time replacement. The full‑time position carries higher salary and benefit costs, and staff projected the welfare department would be overspent by about $30,000 by fiscal year end. The manager said the transfer will come from a general government account (O1018143) that holds funds set aside for personnel raises and other general government costs.
The council voted 6-0 to authorize the transfer from general government to the welfare department line items (01258104 and associated benefits accounts). The manager said the town shifted money intended for a temporary IT position earlier in the year to help cover the welfare costs; the IT hire will start in July and that budget will be fully funded next fiscal year.
Councilors said the welfare department remained operationally strong during the staffing change and praised the new full‑time employee for maintaining service levels. The transfer was presented as a routine year‑end appropriation adjustment under RSA 30:2‑10 and Charter provisions cited by staff.
Motion and vote: The council approved the transfer 6-0; finance staff will post the transfer and reflect it in year‑end reporting.
