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County staff seeks direction to counterstate courthouse lease; commissioners favor phased rent increase
Summary
Staff presented a state proposal to renew courthouse space for two years with no increase; county staff recommended negotiating to phase rent to $17.10 in 2026 and $18.21 in 2027 (ending at $18.76 by the primary lease term), and commissioners directed staff to pursue a counteroffer and return if negotiations fail.
County staff told commissioners the New Hampshire administrative office requested a two-year courthouse lease renewal with no increase. Staff presented a rent-comparison table showing other state-occupied spaces paying between $15.99 and $18.21 per square foot and recommended negotiating a phased increase that would make the county—s lease align with other state departments by the end of the term.
Commissioners discussed options and suggested a compromise to set rent at $17.10 per square foot for 2026 and $18.21 for 2027, with the understanding that the department of corrections and other state tenants currently pay higher rates. Staff said the current county lease runs through Dec. 31, 2027, and that escalation steps in recent years had been in the 3—5% range.
No formal vote was recorded to adopt a final position; commissioners directed staff to propose a counteroffer along the phased schedule and to return to the board if the state declines to negotiate to the requested levels.
