State reps could vote on county budget as early as next week

LACONIA — The Belknap County Budget Review Committee will meet for what is likely their final session at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22.

They’ll consider the budgets for the county nursing home, one of the largest expenses, and for funding to outside agencies.

It’s also the first meeting of the county delegation where new County Administrator Carina Park is expected to attend — she’s set to begin working in Belknap on Tuesday. Most recently, she led the Town of Lincoln as their administrator. 

County Administrator Deb Shackett is retiring Jan. 31, so she could be present for the eventual delegation vote on the budget, potentially to be scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

The Belknap County Delegation is comprised of the area's representatives to the Statehouse. 

At the conclusion of the budget committee’s previous meeting on Jan. 15, Shackett informed members that, based on potential changes to the commissioners' proposed budget, the amount to be raised by taxes would be reduced to 5.4%.

That figure is about 2% lower than the 7.6% to be raised by taxes suggested in the commissioners' original budget proposal.

The county nursing home, which serves elderly residents, is overseen by Nursing Home Administrator Shelly Richardson. According to the recommendations made by County Commissioners Peter Spanos (Chair, District 1), Glen Waring (Vice Chair, District 2) and Stephen Hodges (Clerk, District 3), the nursing home is budgeted for $15.8 million in expenses, and $11.5 million in revenue, both slight increases over last year’s projected year-end figure.

The recommended $15.8 million in expenditures for the nursing home comprises roughly 39% of the county’s total operating budget.

The commissioners also suggest maintaining funding or increasing appropriations to outside social service agencies in their budget recommendations. 

For the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, commissioners recommended $182,500, an increase over the $82,500 approved last go-round. In 2023 and 2024, that organization received $165,000 in funding from Belknap County. 

Commissioners recommended the Belknap County Conservation District receive $60,000 in county funding, an increase over the $25,000 that organization was appropriated last year. Their budget was reduced from $50,000 in 2023 and 2024, during the budget process last year. 

It's recommended Lakes Region Mental Health Center, located in downtown Laconia, receive $16,000 in county funding. They were appropriated the same amount last year, reduced from $32,000 in 2023 and 2024.

And commissioners recommended the Community Action Program receive $56,000 in county funding, the same figure that organization was appropriated in 2022-25. 

Commissioners did not recommend funding Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Hampshire in 2026. They were appropriated $3,750 last year, a reduction from $7,500 in 2024. 

Thursday could be the final round of budget review for the committee ahead of a vote by the whole delegation.

Last week, budget review committee members Reps. Steven Bogert (R-Laconia), Mike Bordes (R-Laconia), Harry Bean (R-Gilford), Matt Coker (R-Meredith) and Charlie St. Clair (D-Laconia) heard budget recommendations for the Belknap County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Bill Wright, to the tune of $3.4 million, an increase over the $3.33 million budgeted in 2025.  

For the corrections department, led by Superintendent Michelle Wetherbee, commissioners recommended funding of $6.9 million, an increase over the $6.4 million budgeted in 2025.  

To the county’s supervision program, led by Executive Director Tricia Thompson, the commissioners recommended budgeting $184,000, and to the county attorney’s office, led by Belknap County Attorney Keith Cormier, commissioners recommended budgeting $1.4 million, an increase over the $1.3 million budgeted in 2025.