To the Editor:
In the mail this week was an envelope from Portsmouth City Hall containing the second half of my Portsmouth property taxes.
The bill’s due date of June 3, 2024, was a sobering reminder of where the city of Portsmouth is in its budget process, coupled with the coming property revaluation.
It also was a very good reminder of what our City Council’s priorities should be moving forward. The unglamorous Portsmouth City Budget?
Who are the budget hawks and advocates for the residents on the Council?
Is anyone on this current Council concerned and listening?
The city budget is now way north of $150 million with increases in all aspects of city spending and a dramatic rise in city employee headcount.
The budget is out of control for our small city and unsustainable for the future.
We have a Tax Perfect Storm about to descend upon the residents of Portsmouth.
The Progressive tax hubris of this Portsmouth City Council will be on full display this fall with plenty of excuses for the residents. It will create an environment where everyone will be asking “how and why did this happen”.
It’s hard work and not popular for a Councilor to question and challenge the City Manager and Department Heads on the budget. But it must be done. It’s the only way we, as residents, control our taxes.
Unfortunately, this Council has not challenged our City Manager on City spending. Elections have consequences.
You can do something about this looming rise in property taxes. Get involved in the Budget discussions NOW which will be upcoming very shortly.
Portsmouth Has a Spending Problem.
Demand that your elected Council members put on a hiring freeze. Why is hiring growing when Portsmouth has had flat population growth the past few years?
One of the major obligations of our elected City Council is to control city spending and make tough decisions on how to cut the budget. The list of projects and spending requests which are on the agenda for this council is mindboggling.
The discussion around affordable housing is an important topic. Increasing property taxes dramatically drives up housing costs on the inventory of private rental properties in the city and only causes more problems of affordability.
This Council must say “no” to the uncontrollable spending which has flourished during their tenure in office.
Let’s get back to the nuts and bolts of good governance and fiscal restraint which has been a hallmark in New Hampshire government.
My fear is that the Perfect Storm is already here, and we as residents are left 500 miles offshore powerless and adrift for now …. November 2026 elections cannot come soon enough!
