Hooksett budget committee reviews council's $22.3 million recommended operating budget

Town Administrator Andre Guaranton told the Hooksett Budget Committee on Tuesday that the town council's recommended operating budget is $22,324,411, excluding the wastewater district, representing an increase of $493,153, or about 2.3% over the current year.

Guaranton said the recommendation maintains current staffing levels, anticipates an increase for end-of-life computer replacements and includes a $10,000 increase for legal services. "The budget that's before you ... is the council's budget of $22,324,411 excluding wastewater," Guaranton said. "It is an increase of $493,153 or 2.3%."

Why it matters: the committee will meet with department heads over the next four weeks to review line items and possible warrant articles that will go before voters during the town's deliberative session Jan. 31 and the business session March 10. Committee members pressed staff for details on several high-impact items, including potential double-digit increases in health insurance, the use and update of impact fees for schools and traffic, and plans to restore certain community-event and nonprofit supports cut after last year's default budgets.

Key budget details

- Revenues and overall size: Guaranton said estimated revenues rise roughly $140,227, or 1.8%, driven in part by higher investment income. The recommended operating budget is 1.6% higher than the default budget, which the administrator said will not include newly proposed items.

- Staffing: the recommended budget maintains current staffing (reported as 26 full-time and 35 part-time positions). Several departments still have vacancies; Guaranton said the police, fire and public works departments each carry one frozen position in the proposed budget and that hiring will be considered midyear if operating…