Meeting report · Select Board
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Select Board — May 5, 2026
The meeting was characterized by serious debate over fiscal management and public skepticism regarding budget accuracy, though it remained professional and collaborative.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
Budgetary Sustainability and Tax Impact
Debate over whether increases should track with CPI or zero-based budgeting, directly affecting the town operating budget and default budget levels. Affected: All Goffstown property owners
tax increase
02
Municipal Service Funding Models
The board is exploring the implementation of directed fees to fund specific services to offset the lack of general revenue compared to wealthier neighbors. Affected: Residents utilizing specific municipal services
fee change
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Establishment of regular joint meetings.
The board agreed to hold joint meetings every few months (suggested quarterly or bi-monthly) to maintain collaboration.
Agreed
Adoption of a new quarterly budget review process.
The board agreed to conduct quarterly reviews of existing expenses, potentially by attending existing quarterly department head reviews to save time.
Unanimous/Consensus
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 01:12 Joint Meeting Introduction and Goals
The Select Board and Budget Committee held a joint meeting to improve collaboration and prevent the 'us vs. them' mentality experienced during the previous budget cycle.
Speakers: Jim Craig
▶ 05:16 Review of Previous Budget Cycle
Members discussed why the previous budget faced challenges, citing issues with inflation, lack of prioritization in the CIP process, and public misinformation.
Speakers: Elizabeth DeBroy, Peter Gregorikakis, Mark Lemay, Joshua Douglas
▶ 08:51 Capital Reserve Funds (CRF) and CIP Processes
Discussion on better utilizing CRFs, improving the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) vetting process, and addressing the funding of large equipment purchases.
Speakers: Elizabeth DeBroy, Laura Stevens, Derek Horntine, Joshua Douglas
▶ 31:00 Budgeting Philosophies and Targets
Board members debated different approaches, including 'zero-based budgeting' versus setting a percentage target (e.g., 3% over default) to maintain sustainability.
Speakers: James Piercy, Richard Manzo, Mark Lemay, Peter Gregorikakis
▶ 42:00 2026 Election Results Analysis
A review of recent warrant articles, noting that while union contracts and certain capital reserves passed, the town operating budget failed.
Speakers: Peter Gregorikakis, Allison DeCesare, Joshua Douglas
▶ 53:00 Public Communication and Misinformation
Discussion on how to combat social media misinformation and improve transparency regarding the impact of budget cuts and default budgets.
Speakers: Allison DeCesare, Laura Stevens, Mark Lemay
▶ 59:53 Budget Sustainability and Percentages
Discussion regarding how budget increase percentages compare to average state raises and how this affects public perception of sustainability.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:01:00 Municipal Revenue and Service Reductions
Discussion on Goffstown's lack of revenue sources compared to neighboring towns like Bedford, the potential need to reduce operating expenses, and the exploration of directed fees to fund specific services.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:04:21 Budget Inflation and Line-Item Accuracy
Debate over whether the budget is inflated due to department heads overestimating line items, and a discussion on how these practices affect the 'default budget.'
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:14:17 Fire Department Overtime and Retention
A discussion on how firefighter retention issues (the town acting as a 'training ground' for larger municipalities) are driving up overtime costs.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:30:56 Capital vs. Operating Expenses
Discussion on the rising costs of capital equipment (fire trucks, ambulances) and whether the town should implement policy guardrails regarding the ratio of capital to operating expenses.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
Budget Philosophy and Inflation Concerns
There is a fundamental disagreement on whether to use zero-based budgeting or set specific percentage targets. Residents expressed concern that the budget is being 'inflated' by department heads, while the board must balance service needs against taxpayer sustainability.
Board position: The board is divided between members advocating for strict percentage targets (CPI-aligned) and those discussing the nuances of departmental needs and zero-based approaches.
Internal dissent
Mark Lemay explicitly advocated for a policy of consistency with CPI rather than zero-percent increases, while others debated the mechanics of line-item accuracy.
high concern
02
Fire Department Overtime and Staffing
Public questioning of whether a 24/7 fire department is necessary and whether overtime can be cut directly impacts public safety costs and resident tax rates.
Board position: The board signaled that overtime is a systemic symptom of a 'retention problem' (staff leaving for larger towns) rather than a lack of necessity, making direct cuts difficult.
medium concern
Community vs. board tension
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Provide CRF projections and details regarding leasing, financing, and capital purchases for equipment/vehicles.
Assigned: Department Heads · Due: June
Schedule regular joint meetings to coordinate on budget targets and priorities.
Assigned: Select Board and Budget Committee · Due: Ongoing
Provide a deadline for Capital Reserve Fund (CRF) submissions at the next meeting.
Assigned: Select Board · Due: Next meeting
Send a notice to the Budget Committee regarding which Select Board meetings will serve as quarterly reviews and schedule a joint planning meeting.
Assigned: Derek (Staff) · Due: TBD
Hold a joint meeting for budget planning purposes.
Assigned: Select Board and Budget Committee · Due: September (estimated)
Notable statements
I would like us all to feel comfortable enough to say whatever you want to say... if you have some suggestions on how we can make it better. — Jim Craig · Setting the tone for a collaborative joint meeting. ▶ 01:12
I would like to make the suggestion that we have a meeting like this every quarter, not just one meeting and move on. — Mark Lemay · Proposing a way to prevent future disjointedness. ▶ 06:06
I'll be on record as saying I think we should come in at a, not a zero percent increase... I'm in favor of being consistent with the CPI. — Mark Lemay · Expressing a policy position on sustainable tax increases. ▶ 34:06
I would like to see... what is the average raise of the person, not for the town, in the state of New Hampshire? — Richard Manzo · Suggesting a benchmark to help citizens understand the reality of budget increases. ▶ 1:01:00
Goffstown is a poor town... the difference between us and Bedford is gonna continue to expand. — Unidentified speaker · Discussing the impact of declining state and federal funding on municipal revenue. ▶ 1:01:00
I believe that the budget is inflated... department heads... make these lines higher just so they can cover this line. — Unidentified speaker · Questioning the accuracy of line-item budgeting and its effect on the default budget. ▶ 1:04:21
Goffstown sounds known as a breeding ground for firefighters... [it is] a training ground or a stepping stone. — Unidentified speaker · Explaining why the fire department faces high overtime due to personnel leaving for larger towns after being trained. ▶ 1:16:00
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
9
Total speakers
6
Addressed
2
Partial
1
Not addressed
Unidentified speaker
Partial
The speaker reflected on the difficulty of communicating the budget committee's hard work and openness to cuts during the previous budget cycle. They expressed a desire for better ways to convey to constituents that the committee is willing to discuss any proposed cuts on their merits.
Key concern
Improving communication regarding the budget committee's transparency and willingness to consider cuts.
Board responseThe discussion moved into suggestions for anonymous suggestion boxes and direct constituent engagement.
The board and other speakers engaged in a dialogue about how to receive feedback, suggesting digital methods and direct outreach, though no specific formal policy was immediately adopted.
Jessica
Partial
The speaker suggested creating an online suggestion box or general mailbox where constituents can submit comments or questions anonymously. This would allow the board and committees to share these concerns on social media to encourage more public engagement.
Key concern
A request for an anonymous online suggestion box to facilitate constituent communication.
Board responseThe board discussed the feasibility of anonymity regarding 'right to know' laws.
The board engaged with the idea, discussing the legalities of anonymity and the goal of getting more questions from the public.
Unidentified speaker
Not addressed
The speaker argued that budget percentage increases should be contextualized by comparing them to the average wage increases in New Hampshire. They noted that a 5% budget increase feels unsustainable to residents if their own raises are only around 3%.
Key concern
The need to present budget percentages in the context of state-wide wage growth for better public understanding.
Board responseThe board did not directly address the specific request for wage comparison data in the immediate response, though they discussed budgeting mechanics later.
The board moved into discussions regarding revenue, capital investment, and budget inflation without specifically addressing the request to use state wage averages as a comparison tool.
Elizabeth
Addressed
The speaker noted that Goffstown lacks the revenue sources of wealthier towns and faces increasing inequities as state/federal funding declines. They suggested that while capital investment is important, the town must look at reducing operating expenses and exploring specific service fees to manage costs.
Key concern
Addressing revenue inequities and finding ways to reduce operating expenses through service fees and revenue adjustments.
Board responseThe board agreed that they need to 'dig deeper' and acknowledged the discrepancy between Goffstown and towns like Bedford.
The board acknowledged the economic reality described and agreed on the need to look for efficiencies and revenue opportunities.
Josh
Addressed
The speaker encouraged constituents to provide ideas for efficiency and noted the differences in property values and services between Goffstown and Bedford. They emphasized the need for non-partisan cooperation and urged members to work together rather than through external articles or studies.
Key concern
Promoting collaborative, non-partisan problem solving and direct communication of efficiency ideas.
Board responseThe speaker is a member of the board/committee engaging in the discussion; the response was to call for unity.
As a board member, the speaker addressed the community's need for collaboration and direct feedback.
Izzy
Addressed
The speaker expressed a belief that the budget is inflated because department heads may over-budget certain lines to ensure coverage. They argued this practice skews the 'default budget' and makes financial adjustments more difficult.
Key concern
Budget inflation caused by department heads over-budgeting line items.
Board responseThe board explained their process of reviewing actual spends vs. budgets and mentioned using spreadsheets to flag and adjust lines.
The board provided a detailed technical explanation of how they verify line items against actual spending to prevent inflation.
Unidentified speaker
Addressed
The speaker asked for clarification on whether budget adjustments are based on the previous year's actual spending or the budgeted amounts. They wanted to know how the town calculates projections for the following year.
Key concern
Clarification of the methodology used for budget line-item adjustments.
Board responseA board member explained that they look at both actual spending and historical averages (3-5 years) to project needs.
The board provided a thorough explanation of their projection methodology.
Unidentified speaker
Addressed
The speaker raised concerns about budget transfers and specifically asked if fire department overtime is an expense that could be cut. They questioned if a 24/7 fire department is necessary given social media discussions regarding overtime.
Key concern
Controlling fire department overtime and reducing budget transfers.
Board responseThe board explained that overtime is driven by a retention problem (staff leaving for other towns) rather than a lack of need, making it hard to cut directly.
The board addressed the overtime issue by explaining the underlying cause (staff retention) and the difficulty of cutting emergency response costs.
Unidentified speaker
Addressed
The speaker commented on the nature of budget transfers, noting that in other municipalities, they are used as a tool for reprioritization. They suggested that the current 'bottom line' budget system makes transfers necessary for flexibility.
Key concern
The utility and perception of budget transfers.
Board responseThe board agreed that transfers are a tool for reprioritization but acknowledged the concern regarding continuous transfers from the same lines.
The board engaged with the perspective on transfers and discussed how to manage them.
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Report composed by
grok-4.3, gemma-4-26b, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-01.