Nashua residents should be paying close attention as the city heads toward what could become an 8% property‑tax increase in 2027. Despite public assurances from Mayor Donchess that departments were instructed to hold budget growth to 3%, many divisions have submitted increases far beyond that limit, and the Board of Aldermen appears content to approve them with minimal scrutiny.
The administration is also proposing a new $122,000 position, described as a resident‑support role. Taxpayers have reason to question whether this will deliver meaningful value, especially after past additions, such as the Right‑to‑Know Coordinator, failed to improve transparency or responsiveness for residents.
Budget numbers tell the story. The City Buildings Department is seeking a 45.9% increase, including a $335,000 jump in professional and technical services. The Recreation Department is requesting a 28.3% increase, driven largely by higher salaries and benefits. These expansions come at a time when residents report less access to public buildings and parks, not more.
Meanwhile, the Nashua Public Library, the same facility the mayor wants to rebuild at great expense to Nashua taxpayers, received only a 0.35% operating increase, even as basic access issues remain unresolved.
Each year, when taxes rise, the administration points to the State of New Hampshire. But the state does not dictate how Nashua chooses to grow its budget. Local spending decisions are made locally, and accountability belongs there as well.
If taxpayers open their bills this year to find an 8% increase, they should remember who approved the spending that made it possible: Mayor Donchess and the Board of Aldermen. Nashua residents deserve a budget process that respects their wallets as much as it respects City Hall’s wish list.
