By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

After discussions with the budget committee, the Hooksett Town Council recently pondered putting forth a “zero increase” budget before voters next year.

During a general discussion about the board’s budget goals for the year, Town Councilor Michael DiBitetto suggested a goal to come up with a budget that wouldn’t exceed the bottom line of this year’s town budget.

“This is going to require a restructuring of the town operations,” DiBitetto said at the council’s Wednesday, Sept. 13, meeting. “I think it’s a year the council may make some drastic decisions.”

While all councilors seemed to favor a frugal approach, town council Chairman George Longfellow suggested the council could trim too much as the budget committee waits in the wings.

“If we gave them a completely bare bones budget, they would find some way to cut it,” he said. “Believe me, they’ll chop.”

Longfellow said dramatic trims to the town’s operating budget could mean more of the “important” items would be presented to voters in the form of warrant articles.

Town Councilor Pat Rueppel urged the council to tread lightly when considering employee salaries.

“People will leave and go to other towns if they don’t get their raises,” she said.

The council didn’t peg any specific programs or departments that may see dramatically trimmed budgets, but Town Councilor Jason Hyde urged the council to creatively think about ways to cut costs, or increase revenue, across the board.

“Zero increase is a noble goal here,” he said. “I’d like to see it go down, frankly.”