Mayor's Budget Aims to Limit Tax Increase

Nashua Mayor Donnalee Lozeau says her proposed $241.2 million budget for fiscal year 2015 will limit the tax increase to less than 3 percent, or less than $150 over the year for the average Nashua homeowner.

The plan, relative to a spending cap of 2.1 percent, is below cap by $209,000.

"My goal is a budget that we can deliver the highest services that we can afford," Lozeau said in an interview.

The budget investments include spending on roads and paving, she said.

The mayor delivered her budget remarks May 13 to the Nashua Board of Aldermen. The city sees a familiar challenge, namely the cost of doing business has increased over the past year.

But there are positive signs, as well. In her remarks, Lozeau notes the economy is heading in the right direction, with Employment Security reports showing fewer people out of work, and median household prices being almost $20,000 higher than a year ago at this time.

"This year my request to Divisions was no more than a 2% increase over last year’s levels," she said in her prepared remarks. "You will find that is the case with the exception of Schools and Police. Their proposal to me was different than you see tonight. Schools brought me an increase of 3.5% which equates to a dollar amount of just over $1.6 million beyond my request and Police brought an increase of 3.0% which equates to a dollar amount of just over $161,000 beyond my request. I have reduced these in the document before you to 3% for schools and 2.5% for police."

Read the FY-2015 budget can be read on the city's website.

The Board of Aldermen have already commenced budget review. The Budget Review Committee is scheduled to meet for departmental reviews May 15.

Key meetings ahead include a June 16 public hearing on the budget.