Londonderry financial ad hoc committee confirms budget calendar and flags possible water-rate impact

The Londonderry financial ad hoc committee met Wednesday, June 24, and confirmed a budget calendar that keeps department submissions due by the end of July even after a town-council scheduling delay. The committee called for a draft budget to be ready for presentation on July 9 and noted the board’s planned vote window around July 22.

Committee members discussed a notice from utility company Penachuk that it has filed rate schedules with the public utilities commission seeking a rate increase. A member recommended reversing an earlier proposed 5% decrease to the library’s water line, saying the committee should leave the water reduction at 0% to avoid understating likely FY27 costs. "I have a feeling it's coming," the Committee member said about the rate filing.

Members also reviewed other service lines. Finance staff confirmed the town’s electric contract will continue into FY28, prompting discussion about whether the electric budget line could be trimmed further or left conservative. The committee decided to monitor contract timing and revisit reductions once more information is available.

To accommodate compressed timing, the committee agreed to circulate draft budget materials in advance of the July 9 meeting and to expect a longer-than-usual meeting that evening. Staff were asked to update FY26 spend figures before posting the agenda so the most current numbers are available. The committee also agreed that substantive budget questions should be discussed in public during scheduled meetings rather than by email to maintain transparency and public trust.

Next steps: staff will finalize recommended line items and supply updated numbers for the July 9 draft presentation; the committee will follow up on Penachuk’s filing and on any guidance from town finance about contract timing.