Few Residents Turn Out for Annual Town Budget Meeting

The Portsmouth Town Council held the annual budget meeting Wednesday night at . 

Only about two dozen residents, excluding town employees and officials, attended the budget meeting. The meeting last an hour with very few questions raised. 

Allen Shers spoke at the meeting. "For the revenue…what other revenues besides looking for the real estate taxes, from the school side, are being generated or looked at or are you just contemplating?" 

School Finance Director Mark Dunham answered Shers' question and said most revenue was from state aid. 

Another resident asked about the school's $2.4 million surplus. According to Dunham, $1.4 million of the surplus is "unused."

"There's a million dollars of the $2.4 million (that) is committed and cannot be spent. The $1.4 million that is available, there has been a resolution from the school committee to transfer $1 million of that to the town," Dunham said. 

Another resident, Mr. Stock, recommended the council move the budget meeting to be held in May instead of June 13. "You're doing nothing for the people here," he said. 

"It's unfortunate there are not more people here to take part in this," said Council President Joe Robicheau. 

The council is expected to vote on the budget at the next regularly scheduled meeting.