What's New

The City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire is developing the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Proposed Budget for all appropriated City funds. Several City Council budget work sessions and hearings for the Fire, Police, and School Departments are scheduled ahead of the City Manager’s formal budget presentation in April 2026.

The City offers multiple opportunities for the public to hear and comment on the budget, including:

CITY OF PORTSMOUTH

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

CDBG Public Service Agency Grants

Portsmouth NH City Clerk Kelli Barnaby has announced that her office has begun to accept applications for the lottery to assign the 12 seasonal boat slips at Prescott Park for the 2026 season. The deadline for applying is Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 4 pm. For the application package, visit: portsnh.co/prescottparkdocks.

The Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) has advised its member municipalities, including Portsmouth Community Power, that the electricity supply rates for the rate period February 1, 2026 through July 31, 2026 will increase. The new CPCNH Granite Basic default rate for residential and small commercial customers will increase to 14.663 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), from the current 13.419 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), still in effect through January 31, 2026.

The public is invited to the Inauguration for the City Council, Fire Commission, Police Commission, and School Board to be held in the Eileen Dondero Foley Council Chambers at City Hall (One Junkins Avenue) on Monday, January 5, 2026 at 7 pm.

The Inauguration program includes music from the Portsmouth High School instrumental ensemble, conducted by Eric Gagnon, the National Anthem sung by Angelynne Hinson, the posting of colors by the Portsmouth Police and Fire Department Honor Guards, and an invocation by Reverend Dr. Jerrell Riggins of New Hope Baptist Church.

The Citywide Neighborhood Committee Holiday Lights Contest once again received enthusiastic support from Portsmouth residents participating in this annual tradition. Mayor Deaglan McEachern announced the winners at the December 22nd City Council meeting and has invited them to attend the January 20, 2026 City Council meeting for public recognition. 

The winners are:  

Portsmouth Fire Chief William McQuillen has announced that the Roundabout Diner at 580 US Highway 1 (Portsmouth Circle) is donating meals to Portsmouth firefighters who are working shifts on Christmas Day. 

The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration has approved the City of Portsmouth, NH property tax rate of $11.51 per $1,000 of valuation for Fiscal Year 2026. The new tax rate is six cents lower than the estimated rate in the FY26 Adopted Budget due to greater than expected property growth. Nearly $200 million in property development this year has strengthened the City’s tax base, offsetting the overall tax impact by 23 cents per $1,000 of valuation and cutting the projected tax increase by 41%.