Audrey Masters

This Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Presentation for the City of Concord serves as a roadmap for sustained development and investment benefiting its citizens and taxpayers. The proposal details a total budget of $156.6 million and includes a 5.5% tax rate increase. It emphasizes the city's commitment to strong fiscal management, highlighted by an AA+ S&P Bond Rating, consistent achievement awards in financial reporting, and a focus on managing fund balances and diverse revenue streams including property taxes, motor vehicle registrations, rooms and meals tax, highway block grants, and investment income.

Key discussions included project updates on the West Portsmouth Street Solar Project and the Solar Project at the Landfill, noting progress despite winter weather delays. The committee reviewed the C-PACER program update, noting that City staff would provide further answers regarding risk and staffing to the Fiscal Policy Advisory Committee. Community Power was discussed, specifically the impact of recent high wholesale power prices on cost of service and reserve replenishment, as well as local discussions regarding the Town of Bow leaving the Merrimack County Community Power Program. A future meeting was scheduled with the Resilient Buildings Group concerning the NH Saves program marketing. Updates were provided on the ICLEI-USA Race to Resilience Culture Academy application and the hiring process for the UNH Sustainability Fellow. The committee decided against planning an Earth Day event this year.

This annual report details the initiatives and accomplishments of the Parks, Recreation & Cemetery Department for the year 2025. It highlights significant achievements across programs, facilities, and community engagement, including growth in youth, adult, and senior participation, various completed capital improvement projects, and successful fundraising efforts through grants and donations. The report also reiterates the department's vision to provide sustainable recreational resources and enhance community health and wellness.

This conversation focused on the solid waste industry, specifically addressing difficulties in recycling, diminished capacity, and increased costs. The discussion noted that the City of Concord has benefited from a locked-in contract until June 2024, prompting this discussion about future contract planning. Key topics included the impact of China's National Sword policy starting in 2017, which ended revenue streams from recyclables due to high contamination rates, leading communities to pay for disposal instead of receiving revenue. Participants discussed 'wish cycling,' where improper items like plastic bags contaminate paper products. The increasing costs associated with solid waste disposal due to rising gas prices and labor costs were highlighted. The existing Pay As You Throw (PAYT) program, which incentivizes waste reduction through unit-based pricing (purple trash bags), was reviewed, noting it successfully reduced trash volumes by 40% since its implementation ten years prior. Speakers emphasized the need for residents to actively reduce waste and contamination ahead of the new contract to mitigate expected cost increases based on current market rates, and the potential for increased education, possibly through schools, regarding proper recycling practices.

This report updates Concord, New Hampshire's 2019 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory and models various emission scenarios to inform infrastructure investments and policy decisions. The plan outlines several key goals, including achieving 100% renewably sourced electricity by 2030, 100% thermal energy from renewables by 2050, and 100% clean transportation by 2050. It also aligns with the New Hampshire Climate Action Plan for an 80% GHG reduction by 2050 and the Race to Zero Campaign's targets of 50% net GHG reduction by 2030 and 100% by 2050. Strategic pillars involve investing in renewable electricity, electrifying heating and cooling systems in municipal, residential, and commercial buildings, transitioning municipal and community vehicle fleets to electric, reducing waste generation, and leveraging land-based carbon storage. The intended outcome is to guide the city in making significant decarbonization infrastructure changes to meet its climate goals and mitigate the impacts of climate change.