PORTSMOUTH — With little discussion, the Town Council Monday night voted unanimously to formally adopt a total municipal budget of $74,404,959 for fiscal year 2025 that calls for a 3.15-percent increase in the tax rate.

Under the budget, the tax rate will go from its current $12.782 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to $13.181 — about 40 cents more. The owners of a property assessed at $450,000 will see their tax bill increase from the current $5,751 to $5,931.45 next year, or $180.45 more. The owners of property assessed at $600,000 will be taxed $7,908.60 next year — $239.40 more than what they pay now.

The levy, which is $64,232,385, represents a 3.76-percent increase over last year, so it’s under the state-mandated cap of 4 percent. 

No changes were made to the budget Monday night, although council member David Gleason initially made a motion to give a raise to the guards who man the transfer station. The raise wouldn’t impact the budget’s bottom line since the transfer station operates under an enterprise fund, Gleason said.

The guards, he pointed out, earn only $15.75 an hour, while summer staffing positions such as lifeguards and gate attendants at Sandy Point Beach make anywhere from $14.50 to $23.50 for their part-time positions. Gleason proposed raising the guard’s pay to $18 an hour.

Other council members pushed back on the proposed raise, however, saying it was inappropriate at this time. Council member Keith Hamilton said the council would first need to determine the impact such a raise would have on the enterprise fund.

Another member, J. Mark Ryan, said the matter shouldn’t be decided “ad hoc” by the council without input from Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr. and his staff. “It undermines the entire negotiation process,” he said.

Gleason then withdrew his motion for the time being. “I will bring it back to Mr. Rainer, with some data,” he said.

Raise for future council

Future members of the Town Council, starting on July 1, 2025, will enjoy a pay raise.

Council member Keith Hamilton proposed the salary hike, saying it’s long overdue. He suggested the council president receive $3,000 annually, with the other council members getting $2,000.

“The council, since the mid-’90s I would assume, has been $1,500 for the president and $1,200 for the other councilors. It’s not a huge amount of money, but maybe in the next two days it encourages a few people to throw their hats into the ring to become a town councilor,” said Hamilton, referring to the declaration of candidacy filings that were due at the end of the day on Wednesday. “This council can’t give themselves a raise, so it has to be for the next council.”

The total budget line item for compensation for council members would increase from the current $8,700 to $15,000, Hamilton noted.

His motion was passed unanimously. 

Council vacancy

In the wake of Leonard Katzman’s recent resignation from the council, the town will advertise for a replacement with applications due by the end of July. The council will appoint a successor on Aug. 13.

A vice president for the council, previously Katzman’s title, will be appointed at the July 8 meeting.

Littering ordinance

A request by Gleason to advertise for a public hearing to consider changes to the littering ordinance, Chapter 243, was approved unanimously. 

The hearing on the changes, which were specifically requested by the Harbor Commission, was scheduled for Monday, Aug. 26.

Beach parking

In the town administrator’s report to the council, Rainer cleared up what he described as some confusion regarding resident parking at town-owned Sandy Point Beach. 

“Parking is free to residents with beach pass stickers,” Rainer said. “Two stickers per household are available for free at the town clerk’s office. A beach sticker is not required for vehicles that are displaying a valid transfer station sticker.” 

The clerk’s office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm., Monday through Wednesday; 8:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday; and 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

Resignations

The council accepted with regret the resignations of Brian Conwell from the Economic Development Committee, Ron Harnois from the Housing Authority, and Norah E. Kane-Daly from the Planning Board.

Future meetings

The council will next meet on Monday, July 8; Tuesday, Aug. 13; and Monday, Aug. 26. All meetings start at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. A meeting originally scheduled for July 22 has been canceled.