Budget presentations continue April 1

posted on: 3/31/2020

Following the presentation of the proposed fiscal year 2021 budget to the City Council on March 25, the City Council will hold a budget workshop on Wednesday, April 1, beginning at 7 p.m. During the workshop, Councilors will hear budget presentations from several city departments, including the Executive Department, Finance Department, Planning Department, Library, Public Welfare and DoverNet.

Budget sessions will continue for the next several weeks.

Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus and state health provisions intended to limit person-to-person contact, the City Council will conduct its meeting via video conferencing. The public is encouraged to view the meeting live on Channel 22, streaming live at www.dover.nh.gov/dntv, or to listen to the meeting by phone by dialing 1 (470) 869-2200, followed by the meeting ID of 6035166338, when prompted. The public is also encouraged to provide comments to the City Council prior to meetings, including by email at CityCouncil-All@dover.nh.gov or by leaving a message at 603-516-MEET (6338). Email and phone messages will be sent to all Councilors and will be retained as part of the meeting minutes. Residents may also provide comments in person at the meeting, in the City Council Conference Room. No more than 10 people will be allowed in the room at one time. Additional overflow space will be provided, if needed.

Budget meetings are also available to view online, on demand at www.dover.nh.gov/dntv and at the FY2021 budget page at https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/open-government/budget-revealed/fy2021-budget/index.html.

The proposed FY2021 budget totals $158,331,639, an increase of 4 percent over the previous year. The general fund portion of the budget, which represents 80 percent of the city's operational spending, is $126,623,535. The City portion of the General Fund budget, as proposed, is $49,476,782, an increase of 3.7 percent, which is under the tax cap. The School portion of the General Fund budget, as proposed, is $67,554,182, an increase of 4.2 percent, or $1,185,996 over the tax cap. The county portion of the budget, as proposed, is $9,592,571, an increase of 3.4 percent.

The budget schedule is as follows: 

• April 1, 7 p.m., Workshop: Budget Review - Executive, Finance, Planning, Library, Welfare, DoverNet
• April 8, 6 p.m., Workshop: Budget Review - Education
• April 8, 7 p.m., Regular Meeting: School Public Hearing
• April 15, 7 p.m., Workshop: Budget Review - Police, Fire, Recreation
• April 22, 7 p.m., Regular Meeting: City Budget Public Hearing
• April 29, 7 p.m., Workshop: Budget Review - Community Services
• May 6, 7 p.m., Workshop and special meeting: General Budget Discussion immediately followed by Special Meeting and Budget Adoption

For more information, visit Dover's Budget Revealed online resource at https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/open-government/budget-revealed/.