City Council

Minutes were approved by the City Council on May 28, 2024. CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING City Hall - Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber 6:00 P.M. 5/13/2024 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Pro Tem Haynes called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Bogert led the salute to the flag. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Katie Gargano, City Clerk 4. ROLL CALL Clerk Gargano called the roll of the following councilors: Councilor Cheney, Councilor Soucy, Councilor Hoffman, Councilor Haynes, Councilor Bogert, and Councilor Felch. Mayor Pro Tem Haynes noted that all councilors were in attendance and a quorum was established. Mayor Hosmer joined the meeting at 6:05 PM. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Kirk Beattie, City Manager; Glenn Smith, Finance Director 6. PRESENTATIONS School Department - Steve Tucker, Superintendent 6.A. Department Budget Presentation School Board Chair Jennifer Anderson said a few words to the Council, she thanked the Laconia Finance Director and the School Districts Business Administrator Diane Clary and all others for working collaboratively together on the budget. She noted that retention of employees is a focus to this year’s budget. This budget includes hiring 7 teachers that are a carryover from the ESSER Grant, they were unable to fill all the positions in the previous fiscal year. Superintendent Tucker introduced his team that was present at the meeting: Jennifer Anderson, School Board Chair; Amy Hinds, Assistant Superintendent; and Diane Clary, Business Administrator. Laconia High School Principal Lisa Hinds. Superintendent Tucker went over the Districts Strategic goals: l ACADEMICS, LITERACY, TEACHING AND LEARNING, ASSESSMENT l STUDENT AND STAFF WELLNESS Administrator. Laconia High School Principal Lisa Hinds. Superintendent Tucker went over the Districts Strategic goals: l ACADEMICS, LITERACY, TEACHING AND LEARNING, ASSESSMENT l STUDENT AND STAFF WELLNESS l COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ENGAGEMENT Diane Clary and Amy Hinds presented on the district goals of working towards competitive salary and benefits, Educational Assistants union contract, non- union positions, literary programs in the preschool, elementary and middle schools, community resources. Amy Hinds spoke about the EAL Contract for 2024-2027, there have been upwards of 30 vacancies for paraeducators. The EAL union president was in attendance and spoke to the Council about the highlights of the new contract. Increases of salaries, longevity, educational stipends, added a salary track for registered behavioral technicians, added a shift differential for speech assistants, added a probationary period before benefits start, and added a single health insurance for 30-year veteran retirees. Assistant Superintendent Hinds went over the highlights for each of programs being offered. Superintendent Tucker continued to go over the highlights being offered at the middle and high school and the Huot technical center. There has been significant technology upgrades and have been possible because of Grants. Ms. Clary went over the numbers of the budget presentation with the council: TAX CAP COMPLIANCE THE 2024-25 PROPOSED SCHOOL BUDGET IS TAX CAP COMPLIANT TAX CAP (FROM CITY) l CPI-U: 4.13% l BUILDING PERMITS: $33 MILLION TAX CAP CALCULATION l CPI-U: $1,202,543 l BUILDING PERMIT: $241,771 l TOTAL ALLOWABLE INCREASE $1,444,314 REVENUES l ADEQUACY AID, BUILDING AID, AND FREE & REDUCED l RESERVE FUNDS, CAPITAL RESERVE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION, EDUCATION STABILIZATION, HEALTH INSURANCE, SPECIAL EDUCATION Operating Budget (5.0% increase) General Fund $43,155,613 Federal/State Projects $4,215,807 Nutritional Programs $1,100,000 Total Appropriation $48,471,420 Budget Overview: l INCREASES Salaries, Health/Dental Insurance, Special Education / Contracted Services, Special Projects, Tuition - Handicapped Non-Public Budget Overview: l INCREASES Salaries, Health/Dental Insurance, Special Education / Contracted Services, Special Projects, Tuition - Handicapped Non-Public DECREASES, Extended Year Program, CIP - Architecture & Engineering, Books and Periodicals, New Equipment (Technology) l There were several slides showing the past 3 years approved budget numbers compared to the proposed budget for Salaries, Benefits, Contracted Services, Purchased Property Services, Other Purchased Property Services, Supplies, Equipment, and other uses of funds. Assistant Superintendent Hinds went over the following slide: Special Education CONTRACTED SERVICE PROVIDERS, COURT-INVOLVED STUDENTS, OUT OF DISTRICT PLACEMENTS, COURT VS DISTRICT PLACEMENTS, 402 CAP Many of these areas need to be outsourced, they try to hire when they can. 93 students that have been court involved; it fluctuates during the year. Any court involvements the district has little to no control. Est. cap is $61,888.00 per student. There are currently 25 students court involved students, there are 2 students that are out of district placements. Superintendent Tucker went over the following slides: Grant Funded Offices OFFICE OF EXTENDED LEARNING - 21st CENTURY LEARNING GRANT, OUT OF SCHOOL LEARNING, STUDENT LEARNING COORDINATOR, OTHER GRANTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE LEARNING INITIATIVE (NHLI), GEAR UP OFFICE OF SCHOOL WELLNESS - GRANTS, PROJECT AWARE, STUDENT ASSISTANCE (SAP), BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE STOP SCHOOL VIOLENCE, PROJECT PREVENT, POSITIONS TO SUPPORT STUDENT AND STAFF WELLNESS Budget Priorities ELEMENTARY- INTERVENTIONISTS (3), LITERACY, WIT AND WISDOM, FUNDATIONS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MIDDLE - EXPLORATORY PROGRAMMING, LITERACY, STUDENT SUPPORTS HIGH - QUALITY AND ENGAGING PROGRAMMING, SCHOOL MANAGEMENT, COLLEGE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, SACHEM SUPPORT BLOCK, BRIDGE PROGRAMMING HUOT - SPORTS MANAGEMENT CLASS, TECHNOLOGY / ONLINE RESOURCES, GRANTS STRATEGIC GOALS Academics, Literacy, Teaching and Learning, Assessment Student and Staff Wellness Community Resources and Engagement DISTRICT COMPETITIVE SALARY AND BENEFITS  Community Resources and Engagement DISTRICT COMPETITIVE SALARY AND BENEFITS LITERACY COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ENGAGEMENT Thank you SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE CITY COUNCIL STAFF ADMINISTRATOR TEAM SCHOOL COMMUNITY Questions/ Discussion: Councilor Bogert thanked the district for their hard work in putting together this budget that works with the city. He asked if the new numbers from the EAL Contract are included in tonight’s presentation? Superintendent Tucked confirmed yes, the union contract numbers are in the presentation tonight. Mayor Hosmer told the superintendent that he enjoys visiting our schools and recently heard great feedback from an acquaintance of his about their students transition at the middle school. There were also students that told him about their F-1 project. He thinks its critically important that the community can see the success that have been coming from all the schools throughout the city. 7. Any other business that may come before the Council 8. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Hosmer adjourned the meeting at 6:40 PM. Respectfully submitted, Katie Gargano, City Clerk