Merrimack council moves $42.7M operating budget and multiple warrant articles to public hearing

The Merrimack Town Council on Jan. 21 voted unanimously to send a $42,692,151 town operating budget and several related warrant articles to a Feb. 12 public hearing.

Paul, the town official who led the presentation, told the council the municipal portion of Merrimack’s tax rate is $4.38 — the portion the council controls — while the town’s overall tax rate was about $22.11. “What this town council can control is the municipal tax rate,” Paul said, explaining that the municipal portion represents roughly 20% of the typical tax bill and that the majority of property taxes are set by the county and school district.

Front and center in the council’s actions were capital and infrastructure items. The council moved a package of capital reserve fund deposits totaling $2,763,500 to the public hearing; Paul listed line items including $550,000 for fire equipment, $825,000 for road infrastructure, $525,000 for highway equipment and other smaller reserves. The council also approved a $700,000 wastewater infrastructure capital reserve deposit, which Paul said is paid from a self-supporting wastewater fund.

On discrete warrant articles, the council voted to send a $500,000 gross-appropriation article for compost energy-efficiency improvements (biofilter/fans and variable-frequency drives) to the Feb. 12 public hearing. Paul said the project would be paid by wastewater user fees and that up to $250,000 could come from the New Hampshire Clean Water Drinking Fund in the form of a grant or principal forgiveness; he said the voter guide will note there is no tax impact for that article.

The council also moved a $1,900,000 bond question to purchase roughly 64 acres (identified in the meeting by tax-map references) to the public hearing. Paul described the site as offering options for athletic fields and a future safety complex, and noted the town’s purchase could prevent private development that might add housing density; he said the parcel has the potential, as privately proposed in the past, for about 400 housing units.

The council approved sending a $200,000 warrant article for a 10-year master plan update to the public hearing. Paul said the master plan — overdue at roughly 13 years since the last update — is expected to cost about $200,000 and will give the planning board updated standards to guide development and land-use decisions.

On charter changes, the council moved two items to the warrant. One would eliminate the town’s ethics committee after years of inactivity; Paul said any future ethics complaints would be handled by the council. The other would split the combined town clerk/tax collector office so the town clerk remains elected and the tax collector becomes an appointed position if voters approve; Paul explained the ballot language and sequence are prescribed by state RSA and that the voter guide will require careful explanation.

Paul also reported a finalized wastewater bond payment that increased the wastewater budget by $17,319; he said the amount is covered by user fees and the council voted to add it to the draft budget.

All motions to move the budget and the listed warrant articles to the Feb. 12 public hearing carried by recorded voice votes of 6–0–0. Paul urged residents to review the detailed budget presentations available in the Merrimack TV video vault and to attend the public hearing; he reminded the public of the deliberative session set for March 11 at the James Master Cole Upper Elementary School and annual voting on April 14 at specified polling locations.

Paul also corrected a circulating claim about fireworks spending, saying the town is not spending $1,000,000 on Fourth of July fireworks; the 250th celebration budget discussed at the meeting totals $49,000, he said.

The council adjourned after the unanimous votes. The public hearing on the budget and warrant articles is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12.