Public hearing set for Dover's $151.3M budget

DOVER — While voting on the budget is not expected to occur until at least the City Council’s first meeting in May, it will hold public hearings on the fiscal year 2020 budget on Wednesday night.

The council has three public hearings on its agenda related to the budget: one is on the city portion of the FY 2020 budget appropriations, fees and capital improvement program. The budget City Manager Michael Joyal plans for $151.3 million in appropriations from all funds, with $120.7 million raised from the general fund.

The council has yet to make any adjustments to the budget and still has a presentation by Community Services at a workshop Wednesday before its regular meeting. After the presentation, the council will begin developing its final budget.

There is also a public hearing on capital improvement appropriations as it relates to drinking water projects financed through the New Hampshire Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program. The third public hearing is also associated with the capital improvement appropriations with the revolving fund program for sewer-related projects to be financed through the program.

Documents related to the budget can be found on the city’s "Budget Revealed" page on the city’s website.

While there is no public hearing, the council is expected to vote on the Dover Teachers’ Union contract at its meeting Wednesday. The deal would increase the pay of the 329-full time teachers by $4.9 million over the three years of the contract. For FY 2020, the contract would add $882,772 to the $63.9 million budget the School Board approved in February and now under consideration for the final city-wide budget.

The workshop begins at 6 p.m. with the council meeting at 7 p.m., both in the Council Chambers at Dover City Hall.