Manchester mayor's FY'25 budget includes $228M for Manchester schools, $189M for city services

Mar. 28—Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais presented the first budget of his tenure Thursday, a $437 million spending proposal for fiscal year 2025 that includes the largest allocation ever to city schools while coming in nearly 2% under the tax cap.

The mayor's proposed budget represents a 3.86% increase over FY '24, 1.77 points under the 5.6% allowed under the city's tax cap.

The budget proposes $189 million in spending on the city side and $227.9 million to Manchester schools, a $1 million increase over the past fiscal year'school allotment.

In February, city school board members voted to send a budget request of $232,227,530 to the Mayor's Office for consideration.

A public hearing on Ruais's budget proposal is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m.

The budget continues the current hiring freeze for all but emergency requests, reduces borrowing through bonding by 10%, avoids layoffs of any city employees and level-funds city departments while providing for 4% cost-of-living adjustments, merit and longevity pay, and retirement incentives.

Ruais delivered his budget address in the aldermanic chambers at City Hall, before an audience of city department heads and interested residents.

Ruais said that while working on his first municipal budget, he spent the little spare time he had watching "The Dynasty," a documentary about the glory days of the New England Patriots during the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era.

"While it brings me to tears thinking about our recent troubles, there was one theme that we should all take to heart — their success was directly attributable to their instilling of a value that no one person was more important than the team," Ruais said.

"If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: Ours is a city filled with undeniable and unquantifiable promise, and this budget responsibly funds our potential," he said.

"Let us remember the core values that unite us as citizens of Manchester. Let us not falter in our commitment to investing in our community while ensuring every resident has the opportunity to thrive. Let us seize the opportunities that lie ahead, harnessing the collective strength of our diverse and vibrant city."

Public safety money

Just after being sworn into office in January, Ruais warned how difficult the current budget cycle would be.

His proposed budget covers $1.4 million in increased health care costs and eliminates $600,000 in unfunded vacancies. It doesn't include funding for $1,839,748 in assorted department requests.

"When I started reviewing the initial draft budget proposal, the city side alone represented a 4.57 percent increase in spending," Ruais said. "Combined with the school district's request, the total spending increase would have reached 7.23 percent. When adding in the city departmental additional needs requests, we were staring down the barrel of an 8.25 percent increase in spending, which far surpasses the 5.63 percent allowed by the tax cap. With a lot of hard work and tough decisions, we were able to cut that number down to 3.86 percent.

"Recognizing these realities, we must acknowledge the financial constraints we face."

In his budget proposal, Ruais highlighted the work of Manchester police and proposed funding to retain 10 police officer positions currently funded by the expiring federal COPS hiring grant. Six additional police officers have been hired in the city since Jan. 2.

"The safety of our city is non-negotiable, and I will never jeopardize the security of our citizens," Ruais said. "It is no stretch to say we put our lives in your hands every day, and we are extremely grateful for your service. You have our backs, and this budget has yours."

The budget also provides $100,000 for protective gear for Manchester firefighters.

Funding for homeless

Addressing homelessness, Ruais proposed allocating $1.65 million in federal funds to help construct 45 units of affordable housing on the Pearl Street parking lot.

The budget also allocates money from the fiscal year '25 Community Development Block Grant program and Emergency Solution Grant to support efforts to end homelessness.

Families in Transition will receive $70,000 for family emergency housing, WayPoint $89,000 for its homeless youth shelter and YWCA $70,000 for Emily's Place.

"We need to break the reliance on emergency shelter beds, get people out of homelessness, and help them build a sustainable life," Ruais said.

The budget proposal allocates $50,000 to 1269 Cafe to finish efforts to double the number of residential rooms from 12 to 24.

Other budget highlights include:

—$5.3 million in road infrastructure and improvements around the city.

—$1 million for sidewalk maintenance and upgrades promoting pedestrian safety and accessibility.

—$1 million investment in park renovations, upgrades and maintenance, including playground renovations at Livingston, Wolfe and Howe Parks.

—$200,000 for a league partnership program to further upgrade specific parks where youth sports are active.