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Merrimack manager outlines $46.8M spending plan, highlights public safety complex and wastewater costs
Summary
Town Manager Paul Sharp presented a needs-based 2026-27 budget and six-year CIP Dec. 18 that shows a $1.48M general fund increase (about a 39¢ impact on the town portion of the tax rate), major capital priorities for a public safety complex and wastewater pump-station work, and uncertainty tied to the Anheuser-Busch flows.
Town Manager Paul Sharp presented the Town of Merrimack's proposed FY2026-27 budget and six-year capital-improvement program to the council Dec. 18, describing a needs-based package with a roughly $1.48 million increase to general-fund spending and an overall gross appropriation figure of approximately $46.8 million.
"I bring forward the 26 to 27 town budget," Paul Sharp said, noting the proposal reflects departmental needs. He told councilors the municipal portion is comparatively low among peers, but overall property tax rates are high because of school and other non-municipal components. The manager outlined a 39¢ per $1,000 increase attributable to the town's proposed operating and capital requests (breakdown: master plan ~4¢, capital reserves ~7¢, other operating ~28¢).
Major CIP items discussed included a proposed public safety complex (staff said land purchase is the first step), renovation of existing fire stations, a 800-MHz radio project, Daniel Webster Highway paving and a proposed crosswalk at the Shaws plaza, pump-station renovations and an SRF (State Revolving Fund) approach to stagger or combine wastewater projects, and equipment replacement (ambulances, dump trucks, loaders). Sharp flagged compost tailings disposal as a major cost driver in the wastewater CIP and said the town is exploring lower-cost disposal options.
Sharp also addressed lost wastewater revenue following Anheuser-Busch's decision to close its Merrimack plant. "We lost $1,000,000 of revenue from Anheuser-Busch with wastewater," he said, and added staff will monitor and re-evaluate the wastewater budget as the town learns more about future uses for that property.
Council voted to accept the CIP plan for further review (7-0-0). The manager said department-by-department budget reviews will begin Jan. 7 and continue through scheduled budget sessions.
Next steps: department presentations in January, public deliberation on warrant articles, and a potential bond article if council pursues land purchase or major construction for a safety complex.
