Herschlag: Are You Ready For the City’s 2021 Budget

It’s that time of year again. This Thursday, May 14, the city budget will be delivered to the city council. On Monday, May 18, the city manager will make his budget presentation to the council. Beginning on Thursday, May 20, each city department will present their budget to the city council, with an opportunity for public comment at each session.

FY 2021 FINANCE COMMITTEE BUDGET SCHEDULE - CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

• May 14 (Thursday) Budget Delivery to City Council
• May 18 (Monday) 5:30 PM City Manager’s Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Presentation *Schedule-Transmittal Letter-Budget Summaries-Resolutions-General Fund-Revenue *Non Public Session (Comp Adjustment)
• May 21 (Thursday) 5:30 PM General Government (Administration) *Public Safety-Police-Fire-General Services
• May 28 (Thursday) 5:30 PM Community Development *Leisure Services-Library-Parks and Recreation Human Services-Capital Improvement Program -TIF Districts-Capital
• June 1 (Monday) 5:30 PM Special Revenue Funds *Project Inspection -Parking-Airport-Conservation Property-Golf Course-Arena-Solid Waste *Enterprise Funds-Water-Wastewater
• June 4 (Thursday) 5:30 PM Committee Work Session *Public Hearings *Public Hearing Action (Budget Adoption)

While all city councilors will be participating in the above meetings, they are not city council meetings, but meetings of the Finance Committee. In the past the final vote for the budget has been pushed back to take into consideration any changes to the State’s contributions.

Once again, I have a number of concerns.

The Finance Policy Advisory Committee (FPAC) which is a different committee than the Finance Committee, continues to recommend that each department limits their presentation to 15 minutes. The city council has once again accepted FPAC’s recommendation and the recommendation that city councilors limit their questions.

These are two of the recommendations from FPAC for how the Finance Committee should conduct budget hearings, accepted by the city council at their April meeting.

1. ORGANIZATION E. Members should self-discipline themselves in the number of questions asked in order to allow every member to have a chance to ask questions.

3. TIME LIMIT A. Presentation of the departmental budgets by the City Manager, Department Heads or other staff will be limited to a total of 15 minutes, which shall be uninterrupted by questions or comments.

In the past — after the city manger has presented the budget to the city council — a portion of budget deliberations occurred behind closed doors. It is my contention that not only should the final product be made public, but all deliberations involving the budget (as presented by the city manager) should be discussed in public. I was never comfortable with budgetary changes agreed to by the mayor and city manager and presented to the city council at the 11th hour for a final vote. Is it possible to have those discussions in public this year? Let’s hope so.

Let’s hope that this year all members of the city council recuse themselves when they have a conflict of interest. Those serving on the city council should not be violating city council rules. When recusing themselves due to a conflict of interest, they “shall advise the Council as to the full extent of the conflict.”

It is important to note, “Whenever a matter comes before any City of Concord Public Body, no officer or elected official shall introduce, ask questions, speak on or vote on any motion, ordinance, resolution or issue in which he/she has a conflict of interest…”

And the most important component of the budget, spending. Each year included in the budget is a pro forma. A look to the future years. The pro forma is a rough estimate based on anticipated spending and revenues. The pro forma in the 2020 budget estimates from 2021 through 2025, the city portion of the tax rate will increase, 5.4%, 7.1%, 4.0%, 6.4% and 5.1%, during this period.

If the average cost of a house in Concord is $250,000 and the increase between 2021-2025 resulted in approximately $3 per thousand, a homeowner would pay an additional $750 in 2025. This would be for only the city portion of your property taxes and does not include any increases for local school, state school and county taxes.

The city is using ZOOM to allow you to participate in meetings. You can also watch the meetings on Channel 17 or listen in on your phone.

By clicking the the agenda for the meeting you are interested in, there will be information for how to link to the meeting using ZOOM or your phone. Here is the link for the city council calendar.

https://concordnh.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

And finally, remember that your voice only counts if it is heard. You can participate at the meetings, write or call your city councilor or an at large councilor. Here is a link to members of the city council’s emails and phone numbers:

http://www.concordnh.gov/Directory.aspx?DID=6

Remember, it is your money they are spending.