What's New

On Monday, March 16, 2026 the Portsmouth, New Hampshire City Council will hold a public hearing to consider several options on whether to maintain or increase the current income limits for elderly and disabled tax exemptions.

The City of Portsmouth Public Art Review Committee (PARC) is now accepting proposals for a limited number of grants available through the Portsmouth NH 400th Anniversary Education and Public Art Trust. The grants support projects that enrich and educate Portsmouth K to 12 students in exploring the City's history, heritage, and cultural identity.

The City of Portsmouth Department of Public Works is hosting an Elwyn Park Sidewalks and Traffic Calming Project Public Information Meeting in the Dondero School Library, located at 32 Van Buren Avenue in Portsmouth, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 6 pm.

The City has kept the holiday tree lights shining in Market Square and, with Valentine’s Day approaching on February 14, invites the community to help turn it into a “Tree of Love.”

The Portsmouth Recreation Department welcomes everyone from toddlers to seniors to join in. Residents, visitors, and local businesses are encouraged to create or decorate a heart to hang on the tree. Let your creativity shine!

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:

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.