Friday Updates - November 12, 2021

FY 2022 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 15, 2021 TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

The Town Council will hold a Public Hearing on the Administrator's proposed FY 2022 Operating Budget at its meeting next Monday evening, November 15, 2021. The meeting will begin at 7PM and will be held at the Town Hall in the Council chambers.

This year’s budget cycle has resulted in a proposed 2022 General Fund budget totaling $17,638,250 -- a spending increase of $674,550 or 3.98% compared to FY 2021.

Increases are due to required wages and benefits as a result of collective bargaining contracts, a 2% COLA for non-union personnel, insurance increases, debt service costs, and other miscellaneous requests that will be discussed as part of the upcoming process. Non-property tax revenues are expected to modestly increase in FY 2022 by approx. $36,000 or .47% to $7,673,700.  

In total, this year’s budgetary proposal is projected to increase the 2022 local municipal portion of the tax rate by 2.98% from $7.86 to $8.09, an increase of 23 cents. The tax rate had remained at $7.37 (formerly $8.48 but adjusted due to 2018 statistical revaluation update) for 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. The proposed increase would cost the average Durham property taxpayer with a home valued at $350,000 an additional $80.50 in taxes for 2022. 

The proposed Sewer (Wastewater) Fund budget reflects a .31% increase in user fees in 2022 (a rate of $9.00 per hundred cubic feet), while the proposed Water Fund budget carries an anticipated 9.3% increase in user fees (a rate of $8.46 per hundred cubic feet) for FY 2022. The largest impacts in the Sewer Fund include an additional bond payment for the Dover Road Force Main Project and a quarter of the DPW Projects Engineer position for a full year in 2022. The total Sewer budget appropriation proposal is up 3.4% from $2,876,000 to $2,974,500 – an increase of $98,500. The biggest impact in the Water Fund is adding in a quarter of the new DPW Projects Engineer position for a full year. The total Water budget appropriation proposal is up 5.3% from $1,190,200 to $1,252,700 – an increase of $62,500.

The twelve-month September 2020 to September 2021 Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) numbers are: U.S. City Index – 5.4%, Northeast – 4.6%, New England – 4.1%, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH – 4.0%.

This year’s budget proposal generally represents a steady state budget request for 2022, adjusted on a line-by-line basis after consulting with departments, boards, committees, and commissions, reflecting updated realities/projections based upon our best understanding of the current landscape and needs of the community. Budget highlights include the following:

1. The part-time 16 hrs/wk Economic Development Director position is eliminated. We would utilize contracted service funds if bringing on board professional assistance is deemed beneficial in 2022 for specific initiatives.  
2. The fire inspector position is again not funded in 2022 (it was not funded in 2021 either). This results in the continued complete pause of Housing Standards Ordinance inspections. It is recommended that the Council revisit in 2022 whether it desires to resume the Housing Inspection program in 2023 or beyond.  
3. The FY 2022 proposed budget includes approximately $15,000 in funding to continue to partner with the UNH Sustainability Fellowship Office to bring on a Graduate Student for the spring/summer/fall 2022 semesters to continue/drive forward our sustainability efforts in Durham in support of the Energy Committee and Council goals, as well as our commitment to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate Action and Energy initiative.  
4. Funding included for a full-time GIS Manager position for a full year in 2022. (Note, this was funded for a partial year in 2021.)
5. Funding included for a full-time DPW Projects Engineer Position for a full year in 2022 to both keep up with workload, monitor compliance with numerous Federal/state permits, and to help the department become more proactive in its efforts, potentially saving capital project monies and increasing efficiencies over the long-term. (Note, this was funded for a partial year in 2021.)
6. The 21st police officer position at the DPD will remain vacant through September 2022 as a cost savings measure. 
7. To meet the demands of our Parks & Recreation Department and ensure long-term sustainability/resiliency within that operation, the current part-time assistant position (at a cost of $16,000) is eliminated and a new, full-time Assistant Director position is created as of January 1, 2022, at a cost of $95,000 ($50,000 wages, $45,000 benefits).  
8. To meet the demands of our MIS/IT Department and ensure long-term sustainability/resiliency within that operation, a new full-time IT support position will be created as of April 1, 2022, at a cost of $75,000 ($41,500 wages, $33,500 benefits).
9. $1,000 has been added to the Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee to support increased public information around waste reduction, recycling, and composting. If additional funding is needed, we will address through DPW operational transfers or Contingency.
10. $3,600 in additional funding has been included in the Historic District Commission/Heritage Commission budget to support a sign campaign denoting important historic structures within the community as well as community outreach.  
11. $3,500 is once again included in 2022 to support the planting of shade trees as part of our Tree City efforts.  
12. $25,000 has been included as a new DPW CIP item to offset the cost of unanticipated facility needs/repairs/failures over the coming years. Not having monies budgeted in reserve for such purposes has proven a challenge for the department. This model closely parallels the reserve account we have established for $50,000 within the Wastewater Fund for major component replacements/failures.  
13. The annual $100,000 contribution (funded 50/50) between Durham/UNH to replenish our Fire Equipment Capital Reserve Fund intended to cover the cost of expensive equipment items at the DFD in a predictable, sustainable manner over time to avoid lulls and valleys in our funding reserve has been reduced to $50,000 for 2022.  
14. McGregor Memorial EMS support is up $2,400 for a total request of $40,000 to reflect the cost of operations and a reallocation of costs across the four served communities (Durham, UNH, Madbury, and Lee) on a rolling average basis.  
15. The Oyster River Youth Association requested an appropriation of $56,750 in funding for 2022. Because the Council had previously opted to phase out ORYA funding over several years in the past, this request was not included in the proposed budget. Reinstatement of such funding would need to be by Council initiative.  
16. $118,000 has been included to cover the cost of two replacement police vehicles (hybrid) in 2022. These would represent our 4th and 5th hybrid vehicles within the fleet. Over time, we plan to transition our entire police patrol and command fleet to hybrid, and in turn our downshifted DPW and Town Hall staffing cars.  
17. $450,000 is included for roadway resurfacing/reclaiming, as appropriate, in 2022 with cash to appropriate treatments for the following roadways: Back River Road, Mast Road, Pendexter Road, Timberbrook Lane, Wednesday Hill Road, and Wiswall Road.
18. $1.6 million is budgeted through debt service in 2022 to move forward a TBD solution for the historic, head of tide Mill Pond Dam on the Oyster River. Once the community determines a definitive future course with regard to this structure, engineering, design, and permitting can begin and funding would be fine-tuned for 2022/2023. $275,000 was budgeted in 2021 to commence engineering services. While the Council by a vote of 7-2 on September 13, 2021, directed staff to move forward with a contract with VHB Engineers for engineering services for dam removal, a petition referendum to reverse that action was submitted by residents on October 12, 2021, and subsequently certified by the Town Clerk. As such the question will appear at an upcoming TBD Town election. The Town has been advised by external potential project partners that significant offsetting grant funding would be available to help defray the cost of a dam removal/river restoration option, while minimal external funding exists for a dam repair option.  
19. The future Madbury Road roadway, complete streets, and water line project along this central corridor represents a significant, multi-million dollar phased capital undertaking for the Town in the coming years. It is recommended that Councilors review this project closely in the attached CIP plan.  
20. Significant future facility upgrade/maintenance costs exist in the coming years for our Wastewater Treatment Plant. It is recommended that Councilors review these projects closely in the attached CIP plan.  
21. $175,000 is budgeted (payment 3 of 3) to support the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP) CArE (Critical Advances for our Estuaries 2020-2022) initiative, made possible 100% through the funding collaboration between Eversource and Durham (with Durham’s $525,000 in SRP settlement funds for the Estuary).  

To reiterate, the FY 2022 budget is a basic budget proposal intending to ensure municipal operations remain in conformance with Town Council goals while also meeting the ongoing daily needs of the community. There are few innovations/enhancements, yet those that are noted are believed to be important for the community. Details associated with the budget can be found within this FY 2022 budget book, the 2022-2031 Capital Improvement Program document, or within a separate informational booklet being prepared by the Business Office that will offer some high-level analysis concerning the proposal for Town Council and community information.  

View the Administrator's proposed FY 2022 budget HERE.

View the Budget Informational Booklet HERE.

View the Capital Improvements Program HERE.

HOW TO SPOT AND AVOID A SCAM       

How to spot a Scam:

• Scammers pretend to be from an organization or person you know
• Scammers say there is a problem (someone is in trouble, or owes money) or a prize (winning money in the lottery or sweepstakes)
• Scammers pressure you to act immediately
• Scammers tell you to pay in a specific way (buying gift cards, Bitcoin, or wire transfer).

How to avoid a Scam:

• Hang up the phone immediately 
• Do not provide or confirm any person information (bank account information, social security number, driver’s license information, credit or debit card numbers)
• Talk to someone you trust. Talking to someone may help you realize it is a scam. You can contact the Durham Police Department if you are unsure if it is a scam. Officers will be happy to tell you if it is or not.

View more information on how to protect yourself and your family HERE, or contact the Durham Police at 603-868-2324. 

PUBLIC VIEWER AVAILABLE FOR FALL LEAF AND BRUSH CURBSIDE COLLECTION PROGRESS - Durham Public Works  began the annual Fall brush/leaf curbside collection on Monday, November 8th. 

To provide a convenient way for residents to view collection progress while determining if collection has occurred on their roadway, Durham Public Works created an online dashboard using the ESRI ArcGIS Online Platform. Roadways and neighborhoods where brush and leaves have been collected can be viewed in the upper right and left corners of the dashboard, respectively by accessing the website HERE. For the most accurate information, use the “date range” tool and begin the filter on November 8th.   A screenshot of this dashboard is shown below. 

Proper Management of leaves has the potential to reduce nutrient pollution at its source and is an important part of the Town’s Stormwater Management Program and Strategy. Decaying organic materials, like leaf litter, can release excess nutrients into local streams and lakes, causing eutrophication and algal blooms.   

All items must be out by 7am. 

During Fall Cleanup, Public Works picks up brush (natural material from trees) first followed by the collection of leaves. Fall Cleanup is separate from your regular curbside collection.

Leaves should be placed in paper leaf bags (remember, plastic bags are not recyclable and will not be picked up). Paper bags may be purchased at Aubuchon Hardware and stores such as Lowe's or Home Depot. Loose leaves will not be accepted but may be brought to the Transfer Station & Recycling Center on Durham Point Road.

• Brush should be placed in one direction, bundled and tied with string (no wire please). 
• Brush and limbs must be no greater than 5 feet in length and 5 inches in diameter. No stumps will be accepted.
• The amount of brush and limbs is limited to ONE TRUCKLOAD PER HOUSEHOLD.
• Cutting off small limbs from branches will help maximize each load.

Remember, backyard composting of your leaves and brush reduces the flow of waste, while at the same time, produces valuable organic matter for the soil. It improves your soil and the plants growing in it.