Strafford County commissioners propose $89.0 million 2025 budget; delegation schedules subcommittee reviews

Commissioner Derek Zegleris, speaking to the Strafford County Delegation, presented the county commissioners' proposed 2025 operating budget and said the plan proposes $89,045,019 in operating expenses with offsetting revenues of $47,061,841 and "The proposed amount to be raised by property taxes in this document is $41,983,178, roughly a increase of, 4.18 percent, over the calendar year plan of 2024," Zegleris said.

The county delegation opened a public hearing on the budget, approved minutes from two prior delegation meetings and set a compact schedule of subcommittee reviews intended to produce subcommittee reports before the delegation's March meeting, when delegates will vote on the commissioners' proposed budget.

Why it matters: the proposal would increase the amount to be raised from property taxes by about 4.18 percent compared with the 2024 plan and includes wage adjustments and revenue strategies intended to address staffing shortages at county facilities while remaining under city tax-cap calculations in the county's three cities.

Details of the proposal and countywide issues Commissioner Zegleris told delegates the budget reflects efforts to respond to a tight labor market and persistent staffing…