Hooksett council forwards proposed ~$21 million budget, approves departmental budgets with minor adjustments

Hooksett — The Hooksett Town Council on Sept. 3 reviewed the town administrator’s operating budget proposal (about $21 million) and voted to forward department-level budgets to the budget committee after approving several departmental budgets and a small stipend reduction in planning and zoning.

Town Administrator Andre Garen, presenting an overview, told the council his proposed operating budget builds off the current default budget; he said the package the administration prepared represents a 2.1% increase over the town’s current default budget and reflects negotiated contract costs, equipment replacement needs and other fixed increases. "My proposed operating budget ... is based on the default budget that we're operating under now," Garen said.

Why it matters: the administration’s proposal sets the baseline for the warrant and for the budget committee review that begins in October. Several items that could materially change the final numbers — notably health- and dental-insurance rates and a separate wastewater request — remain unspecified pending vendor and pool notifications. The council approved department budgets that keep staffing levels largely unchanged while restoring some capital and operating lines reduced during recent default years.

What the council approved and key discussion points

- Family Services: The council accepted the Family Services budget as presented at $145,866 after discussion about a $10,000 reduction in the town welfare line and confirmation that the CAP heating program would be retained at $14,000. Patricia (Trish) Caruso, director of family services, summarized the reductions and said the office will continue transportation and heating assistance programs ("heating and electric utility bills"). Outcome: approved; forwarded to the budget committee.

- Tax Collector: The council approved the Tax Collector budget at $342,062. Kim (Tax Collector) explained the office continues to run with four positions and said several new small equipment items (coin counter, credit‑card terminals, registration barcode scanner) are planned to speed processing once funds are available. Outcome: approved; forwarded to the budget committee.

- Planning & Zoning / Community Development: The council reviewed community development and code-enforcement budgets and approved a $200 reduction to the Planning Board public‑officials stipend line (reason: council representation already receives the stipend). After that adjustment the council moved to accept the planning and zoning portion and the full community development package (planning + code enforcement). Council members said most increases there are payroll-driven; the department keeps funding to update impact-fee schedules and to pursue a new pavement/traffic analysis if needed. Outcome: planning-stipend cut approved; planning & community development budgets approved and forwarded to the budget committee.

- Fire & Rescue: The council approved the Fire & Rescue budget at $5,238,414. Fire leadership said the roughly $109,000 increase versus the prior year largely reflects contractual wage/benefit costs and equipment updates. Chief Pete and staff highlighted a state requirement (House Bill 1352) requiring new purchases of PFAS‑free personal protective equipment for firefighters; the department reported it has received sets meeting the new standard and is budgeting replacements and outfitting for new hires. Chief Pete said, "we've received one of the first fire departments in the state of New Hampshire to receive that gear." Outcome: approved; forwarded to the budget committee.

- Public Works (highway; parks, recreation & cemetery; recycling & transfer): The council approved the combined DPW budget at $5,736,334, which includes an added $50,000 to paving to begin restoring deferred roadway work and line items for guardrail repair, contracted pavement assessment and equipment replacement (including a zero‑turn mower requested by parks). Ben (DPW staff) explained a modest increase in roadway-salt and sand estimates and said the town is planning a new pavement assessment using newer LiDAR-based options. Outcome: approved; forwarded to the budget committee.

- Administration: The council approved the administration budget at $1,827,469. That line covers townwide liability and workers’ compensation insurance, IT services, legal services and central software and server support. Garen and staff noted the IT/managed-services contract (Block 5) and several townwide license and security costs increased; councilors asked administration to continue seeking efficiencies (consolidating redundant software licenses, pursuing potential VMware project savings). Outcome: approved; forwarded to the budget committee.

Process and outstanding items

Garen emphasized three items that remain unresolved and could affect the final number sent to the warrant: (1) annual health- and dental-insurance renewal rates from the HealthTrust pool, (2) a separate wastewater budget request that is still in development, and (3) negotiated union/nonunion increases not yet finalized. He cautioned the council that the town usually receives health-insurance figures in October and the budget may need adjustment at that point.

Public comment

One resident, Robert Bovier of Granite Hill Condominiums, asked the council to consider adding a tipping‑fee reimbursement (trash reimbursement) to the FY26–27 budget for voters to decide. The council did not act on that request at the meeting; the transfer-station and tipping-fee lines were discussed in the recycling/transfer division review.

Votes at a glance

- Budget committee operational budget (town committee line): motion to accept the budget committee budget for FY26–27 at $7,087 (motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved and forwarded).

- Family Services: Motion to accept $145,866 (motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved).

- Tax Collector: Motion to accept $342,062 (motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved).

- Planning board stipend change & Planning/Community Development: Motion to reduce Planning Board public-officials stipend by $200 (motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved). Motion(s) to accept planning & zoning budgets and community development (planning + code enforcement) as adjusted (motions moved and seconded; outcome: approved and forwarded).

- Fire & Rescue: Motion to accept $5,238,414 (motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved).

- Public Works (highway; parks/cemetery; recycling/transfer): Motion to accept combined DPW budget $5,736,334 (motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved).

- Administration: Motion to accept $1,827,469 (motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved).

What the council said and next steps

Garen asked the public and councilors to use the coming weeks to raise questions before the budget packet goes to the town’s budget committee in October; Christine Tewksbury, representing the budget committee for the evening, reminded members the budget committee’s detailed review and public hearings take place in October–January. Several councilors pressed staff for clearer breakdowns of software licensing and IT costs and asked administration to return with any confirmed IT savings (including a potential VMware project) before the budget package arrives at the budget committee.

The council recessed briefly during the meeting; the session concluded with a formal motion to adjourn.