Budget Committee cuts $450,000 from road plan, holds tax increase at 5.4%
Goffstown Budget Committee corrects budget after calculation error surfaces. Town Administrator Derek Horne disclosed that the previously approved budget had compared against total appropriations rather than operating expenses, overstating the increase at 5.3% when actual operating budget growth
Budget Committee · Meeting of January 13, 2026
NH GOFFSTOWN — Goffstown Budget Committee corrects budget after calculation error surfaces. Town Administrator Derek Horne disclosed that the previously approved budget had compared against total appropriations rather than operating expenses, overstating the increase at 5.3% when actual operating budget growth was 7.1% including the approved firefighter contract. The committee voted 11-0 to reconsider, then 10-0-1 to cut $450,000 from the road reclamation line, moving that funding to a separate warrant article financed by unassigned fund balance.
The revised operating budget increase drops to 5.4%, representing $1,405,559 over 2025 with approximately a 46-cent tax rate increase. Unassigned fund balance projects to $8.7 million after warrant articles, keeping the town at 13.7 to 13.8 percent against a 12 percent policy minimum and 16 percent target. The revised budget advances to public hearing on January 15.
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Source: the Budget Committee meeting of January 13, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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