Council passes $99.49M budget, including funding for first responders mental health support

LACONIA — Councilors passed a $99.49 million budget unanimously Monday night, ending a months-long process of debate and discussion. 

Councilors initially heard a presentation by City Manager Kirk Beattie on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 at the end of April. They’ve since conducted a first reading, in June, and then a public hearing June 23. 

Last fiscal year, the final total tax rate paid by residents of Laconia was $16.63, according to the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration. This year, according to initial, unofficial estimates, the tax rate per $1,000 could lower: $13.54.

The city’s tax rate decreased each year between 2020 and 2024, as property valuation increased each year concurrently.

“Since [April 28], we’ve had conversations, we’ve had changes we’ve had to make internally. You guys have had conversations and wanted to make changes,” Beattie said. “We now have presented to you an amended expenditure plan for FY ‘26 — it still stays within the tax cap and does not change the amount of money to be raised by taxes from what was originally presented to you in April.”

The budget passed by councilors includes funding for a project manager to work in the planning department as city staff anticipate that department will, in the face of the gargantuan State School development, shoulder an increasing burden in coming years. That position is funded for six months.

The city budget does not include funding for a half-year crime analyst position in the police department. That role is meant to run point for an anticipated “real-time crime” center, which will allow the department to aggregate surveillance video from multiple sources. During an earlier budget presentation, Chief Matt Canfield said a skilled crime analyst could use statistics to sort of predict criminal activity and help law enforcement officials allocate resources based on their work.

The real-time crime center isn’t yet operational, and isn’t expected to be until next year, so councilors may consider adding the position later.

“If we have the ability to fund new positions next year, this is going to be a priority for Chief Canfield and the PD,” Beattie said.

Another amendment to Beattie’s initial budget proposal allocated $50,000 toward the foundations of a city-wide mental health program.

Members of the fire department in recent months told councilors that department chaplain Rev. John Bethell was a significant asset, and asked for funding to pay him accordingly. Fire Chief Tim Joubert made it clear during his department budget presentation the mental health of firefighters is a priority. 

The budget doesn’t fund that position directly, but instead supports a broader mental health program. It’s not yet clear what shape that program will take, but there’s some money in the budget to get it off the ground.

“We want [Joubert and Canfield] to create — they’ll do the leg work, but certainly working with professionals — a first responder mental health program,” Beattie said. “What that looks like and who’s involved in that as far as the professionals who are going to be working with it, we’re going to let them start that program and figure that out.”

When speaking with the respective chiefs, Beattie said they were excited about the prospects of a mental health for first responders program, but also stressed the importance of creating a program for all city employees.

“To really have a robust city-wide program would be wonderful,” he said. “My goal is in the next 12 to 18 months to have their program expand to other city employees. What it looks like, we’re not sure.”

Councilors had little to say about the budget on Monday night, which is tax cap-compliant and features a reduced tax rate, though debt expenses are increased in fiscal year 2026, over this year. 

The city’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. Councilors have to pass a budget before July 27, according to the city charter, otherwise the preliminary budget presented by Beattie in April would go into effect. 

Total appropriations are $99.49 million, and $61.54 million is to be raised by taxes.