Hooksett voters will make some hard choices on voting day, March 10. At the deliberative sessions of Town Meeting and School District Meeting in early February, attempts were made to reduce the school district’s operating budget, a bond to build a new scale house and retaining wall at the transfer station, and the capital reserve fund for fire apparatus, but all failed.
Voting takes place Tuesday, March 10, at Cawley Middle School from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Should all town warrant articles pass, the estimated property tax increase for the median home would be $610.73. If all town articles fail, the increase - solely from the town default operating budget - would be $84.05.
Should all school warrant articles pass, the estimated property tax increase for the median home would be $437.03. If all school articles fail, the increase - solely from the school default operating budget - would be $246.53.
Adding those together, the average property tax increase would be $1,047.76 if all pass.
School district operating budget of nearly $49 million
School facilities upgrade bond of $7.25 million
TIF bond for sewer expansion of $12.5 million (with no tax impact if all goes as planned)
Town operating budget of nearly $25.7 million
Building and wall at the transfer station bond of over $1.3 million
Town and school officials emphasized how hard they worked to reduce costs without diminishing services. With the town and school operating on default budgets, repairs become more expensive and it becomes difficult to retain employees or plan for the future.
Fixing the leaky roof at Memorial School and HVAC systems at all schools has dragged on for several years. Officials, parents, and even one middle schooler pleaded for voters to support the facilities bond. Article 2 asks for $7,250,000 to make the repairs through a bond, which would be paid off over 15 years. The first year would cost taxpayers 6 cents per thousand, or $30 more for a home valued at $500,000, with the amount increasing to 22 cents per thousand the following year, or $110 for a home valued at $500,000 in the second year and reducing each year as principal is paid off.
School board Chairman Wayne Goertel notes the estimated tax impact will vary over the term of the bond.
“If approved by voters,” he said, “the bond would be issued in July, so the first repayment is a partial year payment.”
School officials pleaded for the voters to understand that things will only get worse and more expensive if not fixed.
“This is the third time for the bond issue,” said Gary Daggett, a member of the facilities committee. “I think we came up with a really good proposal. We have a plan for maintenance.”
“When it rains at Memorial, our roof leaks,” said student Devlin. “I know taxes can be a burden but our schools need help.”
Anyone interested in learning more about the state of the schools and the bond can see more at bit.ly/hsd-proposed-building-project-2026.
The proposed school operating budget, Article 3, is $45,851,643. If this fails, the default budget would be almost a half million dollars lower, at $45,360,166. For a property valued at $500,000, the tax bill for the proposed amount comes to $5,285 total, not in addition to the current tax. The increase would be 59 cents per thousand, or $295 more for that half-million dollar property.
Budget Committee member Ernie Bencivenga offered an amendment to reduce this budget by what he characterized as the equivalent of three teacher salaries. Being a bottom-line budget, cutting those positions would not be guaranteed. Ultimately, after discussion, the voters disagreed with the amendment and left the original amount to be voted on in March.
Increases for school employees are proposed in Article 4. The 10-cent per thousand cost would add about $50 to the tax bill of a $500,000 property.
Articles 5-8 are trust funds to save for building maintenance, special education, technology, and curriculum. All but Article 7 would have no tax impact, as the money will come from fund balance. Article 7, for special education, has a 3-cent tax impact, or about $15 for the $500,000 property.
Voters will be asked to approve a bond for $12.5 million in Article 3, which will have no impact on the tax rate as it will be repaid through the Tax Increment Finance District funds. The bond would pay for sewer expansion in the Exit 10 area. This requires a 3/5 approval.
“It’s incredibly important that we realize it’s a large amount of money to be spent over a long time,” said Town Councilor Tim Tsantoulis of the $12.5 million Tax Increment Finance District (TIF) bond for sewer expansion at Exit 10. “There’s a lot of money already spent here.”
Article 3 asks voters to approve a bond for $1,325,840 to replace the scale house at the transfer station and repair a retaining wall. Department of Public Works Director Ben Berthiaume presented the plans for a new building, which prompted a lot of discussion.
Town Councilor David Smith proposed reducing the transfer station bond by $400,000, saying the retaining wall is not in disrepair and the proposed new building was too much. Jodi Pinard, a former Department of Public Works employee shot back, insulted that Smith said workers can use portable toilets. Smith’s amendment failed.
This article requires 3/5 approval. There is no tax impact in the first year of the bond, as it will be paid through the Solid Waste Disposal Special Revenue Fund.
Hooksett taxpayers will be asked for $25,699,803 in Article 5 for the operating budget. Should this article fail, the default budget will be $24,63,338, just over a million dollars lower. The tax impact is $4.72 per thousand, or $2,360 for the example property of $500,000. Again, this is the total tax payment, not in addition to what one already pays.
Articles 6, 7 and 8 address the wages of union and non-union workers. The tax impact of all three, if approved, would be 7 cents per thousand, or $35 additional tax on the example home.
Articles 10-15 and 17-22 would fund the saving for future fire apparatus and equipment, DPW vehicles, town building maintenance, radio console replacement, police equipment, revaluation, drainage upgrades, the retirement trust, information technology, and recreation. Tax impact ranges from zero to 8 cents per thousand each.
Article 16 asks for the establishment of a new full-time assistant finance director with a salary and benefits of up to $133,132. Tax impact would be about 4 cents, or $20 on a $500,000 property.
Discussion ensued about making this a part-time position. Many countered, saying the current finance director is overburdened and the town would be in a difficult position if anything happened to her.
Article 23 is a petition to have taxpayers provide $12,900 for lighting the village area during the holidays. Tax impact would be 4/10 of a cent, or $2 for a $500,000 property.
