What's New

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City Receives 13th Consecutive AAA Rating from Standard & Poor’s

May 19, 2025

For the 13th consecutive year, Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings has reaffirmed the City of Portsmouth’s AAA bond rating, which measures the City’s ability to manage its credit cited its opinion of “Portsmouth's very strong management and economic profile, which it thinks will likely continue to support positive financial operations, resulting in the continued maintenance of high reserves.”

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Memorial Day Holiday Hours 2025

May 19, 2025
  • City Hall will be closed on Monday, May 26, reopening on Tuesday, May 27, from 8 am to 6 pm
  • The Portsmouth Public Library will be closed on Saturday, May 24 through Monday, May 26
  • The Department of Public Works trash and recycling collection on Monday, May 26 will be combined with collection o
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Portsmouth & Pease Drinking Water Supply Update 2025 Q1

May 13, 2025

The City of Portsmouth NH water supply sources have been resilient to the effects of drought conditions that have persisted since late summer of 2024. The Bellamy Reservoir surface-water source has recovered from the low levels observed in October due to snowmelt and late winter to early-spring precipitation.

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DPW Offers Spring Clean-up Reminders and a Battery Disposal Update

May 13, 2025

The City of Portsmouth Department of Public Works (DPW) marked the arrival of spring with Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, which served 254 participants, and with the annual Earth Day, and Arbor Day celebrations. DPW offers suggestions and reminders for the seasonal yard and garden cleanup and notice of a rechargeable battery disposal update.

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Arts and Culture Commission Reports on First Year’s Advocacy and Accomplishments

May 5, 2025

The US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported recently that arts and cultural enterprises contribute $1 trillion to the national economy and, in New Hampshire, arts and culture make up 3.1 percent of the State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Since coming through the pandemic, Portsmouth has turned a spotlight on ways to protect, preserve, and foster the arts.

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City Manager Presents the Fiscal Year 2026 Proposed Budget

May 2, 2025

The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Proposed Budget for all appropriated City funds was distributed to the City Council on April 28, 2025. This budget document and accompanying interactive user guide are posted to the City website.

The release of the FY26 Proposed Budget marks the start of presentations to the City Council and the public. The City offers multiple opportunities for the public to comment on the budget, including:

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City Joins NH Firefighters Association in Honoring Fallen Firefighters

May 1, 2025

Portsmouth Fire Chief William McQuillen has enlisted the City’s help in the "Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters" program. The Memorial Bridge is illuminated with red lights during the week of April 27 - May 4, 2025 to honor the fallen and their families. Local firefighter Charles A. Gallant, a firefighter from the Rye Fire Department, was added to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Roll of Honor this year.

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City Establishes Below Market Rate Housing Trust Fund to Receive and Distribute Funds to Create and Retain Housing

April 22, 2025

The Portsmouth NH City Council has voted to accept the recommendations of the Housing Blue Ribbon Committee and the City Trustees of Trust Funds to establish a Below Market Rate Housing Trust Fund. The Trust will support the City Council’s goal to enhance the supply of housing choices, specifically the supply of below market rate housing options and will be overseen by the Trustees of the Trust Funds.