Belknap County Meeting Room's Personal Meeting Room

Speakers are labeled SPEAKER_N. This transcript is machine-generated.

Recording

Thank you for leading us alg
to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it
stands. One nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all. Thank you, Commissioner.
Before we get started with
I'd like to say a few words
and we all know that
representative Charles passed
a few days ago and
Charlie did
so much for so many
uh for such a long period of time.
Uh this represents a significant loss
for for Laconia, for the county, for the
state. Um I I work with Charlie when I
was in the legislature.
Um he was a very very effective and fair
legislator down there. Uh our
interactions up here in Bellnap with the
delegation
were always unfailingly positive. But
beyond a Charlie's service to our
community, um, I valued his his
friendship and his inherent decency, I
think, more than any of his other fine
qualities. So, I will ask you to just
stand for a moment and join me in
moments. Silence for sure.
>> Thank you.
Commissioners
for review discussions the motion to
approve our previous meeting minutes.
>> All in favor I motion carries on to our
calendar. Any discussion any notable
changes?
>> The next scheduled meeting is um
technically falls on the Labor Day
holiday. So we will have to reschedu the
September 7th meeting. That's the
Tuesday.
>> Um, the 7th is the Monday, so we'll need
to reschedu that.
>> That's Labor Day, isn't it?
>> Yes.
>> So, we can't do it Sunday. We can't do
I'm sorry, Monday.
>> So, we could do Tuesday, I think, cuz
>> were the commissioners available? What?
>> Tuesday.
>> Tuesday the 7th or the 8th? Is that the
eth?
>> The eth.
>> I I do know that John Bosi was hoping to
come in for the following meeting for us
to follow up from our previous
discussion. He is um not available on
the egg.
>> All right.
>> Um but he's available any other day that
week.
>> Do you are the commissioners available
on the Wednesday the 9th perhaps so we
can have Jonah? No, you're not. Okay,
>> let's let's go next week maybe.
Karina, would we would it be wise to
skip a week?
>> Um we could do Monday, September 14th.
um would be the following Monday if you
>> John will be available. Would the
commissioners be available or willing
for that?
>> Glen, does that make sense? Go 14th. You
want to do that?
>> I should be.
>> Okay.
>> All right. So, we'll just push it back
an extra week to the 14th.
>> It's important that you know John
amended his report. We had a lot of
things to discuss the last page. So,
yeah, it's it's worth pushing it back a
week. Okay. Okay, commissioners on to
our previously signed documents.
Discussion a motion to make a motion to
approve second.
>> All in favor?
>> I I motion carries. Uh next up we have
our registar registries and deeds please
Lauren nice to see you chair sunny
sorry.
>> Thank you. All right so
keep thinking of changing the format but
this has kind of worked. So, just going
with what we've been doing. Um, and I
did it through the end of July. I did
look at stuff today and we're we're
we're doing great. So, um, revenue
update at this point through July 31st,
we're over $118,000 more than we were
this time last year. Um, and I've just
kind of looked and did an average. I'm
thinking we're going to be close to
probably 200,000 by the end of the year
if it continues the way it's going. I
mean it today was crazy. We had 90
documents and I think we had like 30
deeds and we took in
185,000 in transfer taxes. Wow. We get
4% of that was just today. So I mean it
was it was very busy. So which was good.
Um
the revenue is 69% of the budgeted
revenue. So there is one other um
interest which I don't know if I I
didn't Yeah, I mentioned that on here.
Lori had changed our bank accounts to
money markets which is huge.
>> We were getting
150 a month in interest. We're getting
4,000.
>> Great.
>> Well, and I hold on to the money as long
as I can. I have to send it to the state
by the end. So I usually send it on.
>> What institution of fairies? Bank of New
Hampshire.
>> So they're being somewhat generous then.
>> Yeah.
>> And I don't know if you know how I mean
I can't I mean obviously this year if it
continues that revenue line we budgeted
1600. So we're going to be like $25,000.
>> Nice work.
>> But I don't know how long. I mean that
could change right?
>> We don't know. So when I'm going to do
the budget I don't know what I should
even budget for next year based on this
or worst case. But so that's going to be
that's huge there too. Um let's see our
docket count is continues to increase.
Um 535 documents more than last year.
Again it's mortgages a lot of equity
lines. People are still trying to you
know while rate you know while their
values are high the equity lines. So
that is um what's that? E recordings 79%
still come through electronically. we
mail system. I mean, with postage going
up, people aren't even mailing stuff
anymore. They're just doing it
electronically or in person. Um,
yeartoday expenses, we were at 53. So,
and I don't see any unforeseen expenses
at this time. Projects, um, nothing
huge. When we are slow or during our
downtime in between recordings, we're
back indexing. So, our records go back
to 1765.
They're indexed. I mean, all of our
stuff is on available online, but you'd
have to use the grant for grantee book.
They're indexed to 1945, which means if
you just put in somebody's last name,
it's going to come up back to 1945
instead of having people look at the
grant for grantee books. So, they've
been doing that and we usually get a
book a week done. I mean, there's plenty
of books. We have about 250 books at 500
pages. So, we've got plenty. I mean that
that's what we do when you know we're
not we don't have documents or
customers.
>> Um
my deputy retired as of July 31st so it
leaves myself and two fairly new
employees. Um Alicia's doing wonderful.
She's she's been there to be two years
in November. So I'm wanting to appoint
her. I figured I'd give her a few more
months. So maybe in October I will make
her the deputy. So that would be great.
Um,
other than that, the property fraud,
knock on wood, I haven't heard of any
other fraudulent deeds coming through,
but I tried to, you know, get that out.
I I said, we got new brochures and I
sent some I sent a stack of them to all
the towns and cities in Bel County and I
did the libraries before. So,
>> you know, Laura, I'm glad you're
stressing that bullet point only because
I got a a Wur alert on my phone. I think
it was last week. an elderly couple um
in Hampton maybe heard about it that
they fell for the scam and their deed
was hijacked so they're living in some
trail I mean it's just it's hard to
believe that it really I I still don't
understand the mechanics of it that it
can possibly happen in this day and age
with records but it does so that's a
really crucial public service here
>> and unfortunately there is no way to
block your title mean you can block your
credit but you can't block a dean so
That's why they'll be glad. This it
doesn't stop it from happening, but it
gives them a I mean within because it's
our vendor. It's free once we type in a
name within that day. It's usually
within 12 hours at the most. You're
going to get an alert. However you ask
to be alerted that something came
through the registry in your name and
you can check our records online for
free and say, "Oh, that's not me. It's a
different John Smith or not." Or if it
is me, then you, you know, call the
police, get an attorney, which
unfortunately costs money, but it's the
only way to do things. I know other
states have looked into driver's
license, you know, checking for ID, but
we're not anybody can get a fake ID. You
can get a fake nobody. You can get a
fake, you know, so it's that just puts a
little bit too much on the registry to
we're just a recording agency. It does
because it gets recorded doesn't mean
it's legal and that's what we stress.
But
>> so, uh, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate
after
>> Oh, yeah. That was the rate when I
pulled whenever I sent this and I
usually send it a week or so before the
meeting. I didn't check. I should have
checked today.
>> You know, I'm old enough to remember the
80s when rates were twice the high.
>> Oh, right.
>> By recent comparison, you know,
certainly pre-COVID is a high number,
>> right?
>> Are are you hearing what we're hearing
that the Fed is in no particular hurry
at all to push these numbers down
anytime soon?
>> Yeah. and it stayed.
>> So, we're living a six and a half plus
>> like you said is not horrible, but when
you had a two and a half or you know 3%
six
>> that looks good now, doesn't it?
>> Yep. But like I said, we're getting
we're still getting mortgages left and
right and people I said there was 30
deeds today.
>> People are and I started thinking about
it. Why was it so crazy? But it's people
are going back to school. So, anybody
that's going to buy a house and has
children, they start closing now. They
want to get them in school, up and
moving. So
>> Laura, what I'm hearing from my realtor
friends is that the market's still
pretty hot for sales and
um you can still buy a house in 2026
with every expectation of selling it in
27 and 28 for 20 to 30% markup. It's a
decent rate, which I still I find that's
remarkable, right, with a high prices.
So,
>> and I think things are still sitting on
I think they're sitting on the market
longer.
>> But yes, people are still cuz I mean,
you know, we'll see them come in and we
always go, "Oh, it just sold, you know,
they bought it last year. What they buy
it for?" They made 100,000. Wow.
>> You know, it's crazy. But yes, and I
mean, just in Lon any vacant piece
they're putting up condos and whatever.
So, it's it's not stopping. So,
hopefully this continues to bring out
scrap.
>> I hope so. It's we're rapidly
unfortunately approaching budget time.
You know, the commissioners will be
working on the budget just maybe seven
or eight short weeks.
>> Yep.
>> Uh as you will prior to that, uh
anything we should know about your plans
for fiscal year 27? Any surprises you
you think will be faced? Any new hires?
Anything like that? I would
>> I would like, but I know we're going to
look at the budget if I can get a
full-time employee only because I know
>> I mean Judy fills in when I'm not there.
She's she's enjoying retirement, but I
don't, you know, I mean, there's only
three of us. There needs to be three to
run the office efficiently. One calls
out sick or two. I mean, so it would be
nice to have a staff of three full-time
employees. I bring it up, Laura, because
um I think we're going to see more
political turnover in November than we
traditionally do with respect to
delegation, which means that you may not
necessarily have friendlier ears or
sympathetic ears, but you may have more
open-minded ears. So, as you made your
case for salary few months ago,
>> and I have everything I mean, we are the
or what for the documents, we're the
smallest staff. I mean our staff is the
equivalent to Kas and Sullivan who had
less than half as many documents as we
have. So
and I have all that
I mean I would keep that to present but
again it all depends on the numbers
but that would be the only thing. I
don't knock on wood I don't have any
projects. I don't have any big ticket
items. Um, so my contract 2027 is the
last year with our U vendor Fiddler. I
and I don't know when I need to come to
you to, you know, request a bid waiver.
There's 10 counties. Nine of us all use
the same vendor. It'd be kind of silly
to change, but and I don't know if that
would be now I do that or I wait till I
mean I can't really wait till next year
when it's going to expire the end of
next year. I don't I don't that's new to
me. So, I wasn't sure on that. Trying to
get a bid waiver and a five-year
extension, I think, is what was
typically done prior.
>> Do you know when the last time we we put
it out for for an RFP?
>> I can look. I think we've been with them
in I would say 2016.
>> I don't know that there, like I said,
Carol County just switched to the same
vendor we have. So, Marramac is the only
one who does not. And depending on who
gets elected, that could change,
>> right? I think
I think it' be good to find what when
the last time we at least put it out for
a bid.
>> And if they're the only ones that bid,
they're the only ones that bid, but I
think we should at least look and see
when the last time we did it,
>> Been a while, we should probably at
least put it out again
>> just to see what
>> just to see that there isn't any others
out there.
When is when is the agreement?
>> It expires expires the end of 2017.
>> Yeah. So I think we have time next year.
Yeah.
>> June next year or something.
>> Yes. from the fees that the fees that we
select um for copies it's Larredo are
our customers um like attorneys title
companies and then we've got Ava
Republic search where anybody prints
it's $2 a page and then tapestry is used
by banks all across so we bring in I
think I had so far through July $83,000
from that through their vendor the
contract with them for everything runs
about 90. So we're it kind of pays for
itself and we're still getting probably
another 30 $40,000 that goes towards
revenue. But yes, I will I will
definitely look that up and we'll find
out and go from there. I mean it doesn't
hurt, I guess, to go out to and is that
the only ones the only one final
question. Um it's been a hot summer. Has
your offices have they been comfortable?
>> Yeah, good good report. Thank you for
my goodness.
>> Okay, we're gonna have
an auto review. Karina,
>> well, I'm going to turn that right over
to Lori.
Matt,
>> we're passing the hot potato. I'll take
the hot potato.
>> I'm Matthew Hunt. I'm with CLA, uh, the
county's new audit firm. Want to uh
thank the the commissioners for
Turn the mic up a little bit.
>> Can people hear me better now?
>> Oh, that's better, Kelly. Thank you.
>> Keep going, Kelly.
>> Now, okay, you can hear me. Okay,
>> great. I think so.
>> Okay, great. Uh, again, want to thank
the commissioners for having me here
tonight uh to give an overview uh of the
county's uh 2025 audit. So, if you just
bear with me for a second here, I think
I've done this enough that I can pull up
the the presentation.
Although it's not
it's not really letting me pull it up.
Oh, wait. Here we go. Here we go. Can
people see sort of a PowerPoint
presentation on the screen?
>> Yeah. See the person?
>> Great. Great. So, our agenda tonight,
we're just going to go over uh some of
the financial highlights uh of the
county's 2025 financial statements. Uh
we'll also go over a couple of findings
uh that came about uh as a result of the
audit and then open it up for questions,
but of course, if anybody does have any
questions uh along the way, please feel
free uh to interject. So jumping into it
in terms of the county's financial
statements uh we have to as part of the
audit we provide uh what is called an
audit opinion on the financial
statements. Happy to report uh that the
county's financial statements uh contain
an unmodified audit opinion. That is the
best opinion uh that you can receive in
a financial statement audit. So that's
certainly a credit uh to Lori and her
team uh for that uh unmodified audit
opinion. In terms of some of getting
into some of the highlights, uh, your
financial statements are broken down
into various components. The first
component of the financial statements
are what are we what we call the
governmentwide financial statements.
Those are your full acrruel financial
statements that report all of your
long-term assets, all of your long-term
liabilities,
uh, etc. So, looking at highlights of
that particular set of financial
statements, the county has assets of
approximately $25 million. as of 123125
uh largely consisting of cash of about 6
million and capital assets of about $18
million. Uh the county had liabilities
uh totaling approximately 28 million. Uh
the three most significant uh categories
of liabilities are bonds and notes
payable for 7 million. Your net pension
liability approximately 16 million and
your net op liability other
post-employment benefits approximately 2
million. You will notice that your
overall full acrruel net position is in
a deficit of 2 million and an
unrestricted net position is a deficit
of 13 million. Uh this is not unusual.
It's the result of your unfunded or
currently unfunded uh oped and pension
liabilities. So it's not a red flag. Uh
it is a direct result of those
particular liabilities.
In terms of your full acrual financial
statements and revenues and expenses, uh
the county did experience an overall
increase in its net position of about $1
million. Uh the county had overall
expenses for 2025 of about 37 million.
Uh the uh most significant expense being
related to the nursing home about 15
million or 40% of your expenses. Uh then
in terms of revenues, the county had
revenues of approximately 38 million.
The two most significant categories
being taxes of about 22 million or 58%
and then nursing home revenues were 17
million or 30%. So that's really the
overall view of your your full acrruel
financial statements. The next set of
financial statements are what we call
your governmental fund financial
statements. These are more shortterm in
nature. So it doesn't include long-term
assets like your capital assets. It
doesn't include long-term liabilities
like your debt or your pension
liability. It's got a little bit more of
a short-term focus. Uh and typically the
primary focus of this set of financials
is your general fund. And so you'll see
that information on page 13 sort of
running through the the general fund
fund balance. Uh as of 123125, the
county had general fund fund balance a
little under 6 billion. You'll see in
your balance sheet there's various
categories of fund balance uh on
non-spendable amounts related to
inventory. There's some restricted
amounts related to deed search charges.
There's also an assigned fund balance
amount of about $2 million that largely
consists of funding set aside for the
subsequent year budget. That leaves the
county with unassigned fund balance uh
of about $3.7 million. as a frame of
reference. We always like to compare
that number to your annual expenses just
to give you an idea of of of what your
unassigned reserves uh the level of
those are and that represents about 10%
of your 2025 expenses. So, generally
speaking, there's no hard and fast rule
per se, but you'd like to have that
unassigned number be at least 5% of your
expenses. So, uh the fact that it's up
to 10% uh that's a good ratio.
And then during 2025, the general fund
experienced a positive net change in
fund balance of about 738,000.
That's on page 15.
Also, in when it comes to general fund
results, I think the budget to actual
financial statement is a good uh place
to look. That's on page 47. What you'll
see from that budget to actual is that
even though the county used
approximately $1.5 million of fund
balance to help balance the budget,
revenues came in about $1.3 million
higher than expected and expenses came
in uh a little under a million dollars
uh less than expected. So those two
positive factors, revenues higher than
budget, expenses less than budget,
that's why you were able to experience
an overall increase in the general fund
despite the fact that you use some of
that money uh to help fund the budget.
Uh last highlight of the the financial
statements, the fund financial
statements, your custodial funds, those
are basically fiduciary funds where the
counties uh sort of just acting as a a
holding agent for funds. The large
majority of of the custodial funds
relate to taxes and fees collected uh
and paid on behalf of the state of New
Hampshire. Uh that was about $15 million
for 2025.
Last highlights of the financial
statements. We want to point out some
footnotes to the financial statements
that contain some useful information. Uh
note six relates to capital assets. The
county's total net capital assets at the
end of the year was about 17.5 million.
Uh overall you had asset additions of a
little over a million dollars. Uh and
page nine of your financial statements
has a nice summary uh of your different
fixed asset additions during the year.
Notes eight and nine relate to your uh
debt long-term debt. Uh total debt
outstanding at 123125 for the county was
about $7 million. Very minimal activity
as it relates to debt during 2025. small
increase of about 100,000 and some
decreases of about 300,000.
As we talked about earlier, your pension
liability, that's uh the county share of
the New Hampshire retirement system
liability. Uh at the end of 2025, that
liability was about $16 million, fairly
consistent with the previous year. do
want to point out that the most
important factor when it comes to the
pension liability and also the OPED
liability is that your actuary or the
actuary for the retirement system has to
use a discount rate to calculate the
liability. That discount rate was about
6.75%.
Uh that is pretty typical uh industry
standard for for discount rate of
return. And you'll see in that footnote
that if the discount rate were to go up
or down 1% uh it does have a fairly
large impact on the liability.
And then lastly on the footnotes note 14
related to other post-employment
benefits. Total OPED liability was about
$2.3 million. Again similar to pension
consistent with the prior year. There's
two different components of that
liability. One relates to the county
plan. One relates to the New Hampshire
retirement system. And you you'll see
the discount rates there uh listed on
the slide. And in terms of those
sensitivity tables plus one minus one on
the discount rate, you'll see that
information on pages 40 and 43
respectively.
So that's essentially a rundown on the
financial statements. So before I open
it up to any questions, do want to also
point out there's just a couple of
findings uh that we identified during
the audit. One of them relates to, and
this is very common whenever you have a
new audit firm come on, uh, which was
the case for us in 2025. Oftentimes with
a fresh set of eyes, there are certain
things that we view differently than
maybe your previous audit firm did. So,
there was a prior period adjustment that
we made to the financial statements. And
this relates to funding that was
received back in 2023 uh, from the state
of New Hampshire. Uh, it was reported as
as grant revenues. Technically speaking,
based on the agreement, it was actually
initially a loan. That loan has since
been forgiven. Uh but at the time uh
before that loan was forgiven, it should
have been reported as a as a loan
liability, but it was reported as grant
revenues. So again, we just restated the
beginning balances in the financial
statements. And then lastly, as part of
a sort of a value ad to the audit, we
put on um information technology
specialists. They don't do a full-blown
information technology audit. uh sort of
limited procedures that are more geared
towards uh the integrity of your
financial information. So there were
some I think good recommendations that
came about as part of that process. Uh
obviously you can see that in your
manager letter report in full, but in
terms of summarizing those comments, the
county does do a good job of of
maintaining written policies and
procedures. There's just a couple things
that could be uh a little bit better.
Make sure that you annually are
documenting your reviews of those
policies and procedures. inevitably with
especially in the world of information
technology things change all the time.
So you always want to make sure that
you're annually updating those and
documenting that you've reviewed those.
Uh when it comes to user access reviews
that's basically making sure that the
people who have access to your networks
and systems uh is appropriate. So you
should make sure that you document your
policies and procedures associated with
those reviews.
uh in terms of SOC report that's
considered service organization control
report essentially that's a specialized
kind of report uh that would detect any
sort of internal controls issues related
to uh the Munis uh technology platform
that the the county uses. Uh also
recommend that the county perform and
document an annual IT risk assessment.
Again, given the the everchanging world
and information technology and threats
that are out there, it's always a good
idea to do that on an annual basis. And
then lastly, also something that we
recommend be done on an annual b basis
is to make sure that you're testing and
documenting uh your ability to restore
financial data in case for some reason
your systems went down due to a natural
disaster or something of that nature. uh
you want to make sure that you can test
that that your backs backups of uh
financial data can be restored. Uh so
essentially that's sort of the rundown
summary uh of the 2025 audit. So happy
to open it up uh for any questions.
>> I'm sorry I I didn't catch your name. I
may have distracted. Your name again,
sir?
>> Name is Matthew Hunt. I'm with Clifton
Larson Allen.
>> What was your last name, sir?
>> Hunt.
>> Hunt. Hu N T.
>> Matthew Hunt. Thank you. Uh I have a
question. Um under the note 6 capital
assets uh you report deep depreciation
at 1.6 million. That's not a subjective
number. Use the calculus for that.
>> Yes. That's based on your assets and
that each asset has an asset life and is
depreciated over a straight line basis.
>> Uh back to custodial funds page 1718.
uh taxes collected, 15 million paid to
the state of New Hampshire. Is that the
chunk that comes out of the overall 22
million collected by the county? Where's
that who collects that 15 million?
>> That is largely I believe and Lori can
jump in on this one. I don't necessily
have all the details of the audit in
front of me at this point in time, but I
do believe a lot it's a lot lot of it is
registry of deeds.
>> Correct.
>> Oh, is that all deeds?
>> That's de
portion that gets paid to the state from
the registry. What what was the total
amount collected?
That it must be more than
>> to go look that up.
>> I'm just want to know what proportion
the state gets. I
>> sure uh
I have to go look it up.
>> Okay. No problem. It's not crucial.
Thank you.
>> Okay. All right. Well, I guess you
touched all the bases then, Mr.
>> That's what I try to do. I try I try to
keep the room quiet. No, I'm just
kidding.
>> But overall, I will say again, I I do
believe again Lori and her team should
be credited again for the unmodified
audit opinion. And again, some of these
findings that we came across, it's very
common when you get a a new audit firm,
they're going to have a fresh set of
eyes and come up with some some good
recommendations. But I'd say overall,
uh, the county definitely a clean audit.
>> So, we we can conrue from this report
then that we keep tight books here.
>> Yes. Yes.
>> Okay. Good to hear.
>> Thank you, Mr. John.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you very much. Have a good
evening.
>> You too.
>> Take care.
>> Can you share half of the audit with us?
>> Pages of the audit. I don't have a
thought.
>> I thought the same thing. So, I have the
management also
>> which highlights all of those IT things.
Okay. That he was talking about. And
actually,
>> should I just come up because it my
turn?
>> Yes. and a lot of the IT stuff he
mentioned in his report, we're following
Primex's
>> um schedule of when things need to be re
reviewed. So, we had we had talked about
now trying to do it annually, but we are
we were following Prime X's, which a lot
of those was every two years versus
every one year. But another thing that
we were able to say, "Oh, yes, we do
that." But it was something so
basic, but basic that we didn't
necessarily say on this date and time,
we did this and signed off on it. And
that's simply all we need to do.
>> So, a few things like that. So, most of
what they're talking about in the IT,
we're actually starting to work.
Yeah. Great.
Okay.
All right, jumping right into the
financial update. Um, we're 63% through
2026.
Um, revenue, uh, currently projecting a
surplus of 525,984.
Um, even though the prochar didn't come
in where we had hoped to in the nursing
home, um, which is contributing to a
projected nursing home deficit right now
of 197,000.
Um we are making up for it with other
things. Interest earnings. Um the ashed
funds that we received deeds were
projecting a surplus of about 110,000.
As you just heard from Laura, that's
probably going to get changed and and
actually have more um of a surplus there
um because her revenue is up as compared
to last year. Um the sheriff's office,
we mentioned that last time. I did add
where their year-to- date is for their
outside detail. Um, so today they've
collected $143,27
in outside detail revenue. Um, and so
based on that amount, I'm projecting a
$70,000 surplus right now on that line.
>> and that's that's net of the expenses
because all the expenses should be going
there against in the
>> so that's that's simply just the revenue
side that I was just showing that
revenue year to date that we've
collected. Um, so no, that is the total
revenue that's collected.
>> The expenses are in the in the separate
from the
>> rear.
So this should just be the net.
>> It should.
Yes, it should.
>> Yeah. Um, and I can almost remember what
that is, but I hate to go off memory.
So, um, but
yeah, I'll pretty that one off then for
next time.
>> Um,
I'm not gonna I'm not going to do it. I
almost I have a number in my mind. I'm
not gonna do that.
>> I wouldn't want you to guess.
>> I don't want to do that. I I'm probably
pretty close. But um so and then also
the other thing that we still don't have
uh is the gunstock revenue. And so
historically that comes in October. Um
>> usually around 350,000.
>> I'm sorry.
>> That's usually around 350.
>> 365.
>> Um and so I'm hoping we've got um good
thoughts on that. Uh and then on the
expense side, we're projecting a surplus
of 680,893.
Um I'm still projecting a small deficit
in the county attorney's office and it
um last month I reported a deficit also
in maintenance in the sheriff's office.
However, those have turned around at
least for now. Uh we do have $182,000
surplus in corrections due to a couple
of things. open positions. Um as well as
we moved about the 97,000
in expenses out of there that were
associated with the opioid fund. Um
those expenses were reclassed into the
opioid fund um to offset that revenue.
Um we also expect a savings in debt
service on the interest paid line and
that's due to the second hand that you
just signed on. uh that is actually a
line of credit which is really great
news. So we will only draw on that as
needed. That's going to save us interest
uh on that. And then the nursing home
we're projecting a surplus of 169,149.
That's relatively unchanged since last
month.
Um the projected revenue and expense
surplus adds a,200,6877
to the fund balance at the end of 2026.
And you can see that on your next sheet.
And then the other thing on that
file is the 2025
um line is updated since the uh
financial audit is complete. And we
ended 2025 with a fund balance of
$5,975,615.
Uh, and actually, you can see this goofy
little number off to the side. Um,
that's that's where we were projecting.
Um, so that's about $6,900
less than what we had been projecting.
So that was good.
Um and then looking at the cash flow,
our cash balance at the end of July is
at 959.
Um the amount of interest we're earning
is slightly up. We're earning 3.74%
currently on our um deposit.
Uh the second TAN is actually closing
this Thursday. Um we did receive two
bids and the lowest was the Bank of New
Hampshire at 4.25%.
Um, and as I mentioned, it is a line of
credit. So, we'll just draw on that as
we need. Um, and then finally, the last
thing you have to look at is the nursing
home receivable, and that is on track,
um, earning 96%. Um, and you can see
we're still collecting way out into 17
and 18 on that amount. And so, u, the 17
balance has finally gone to zero because
of that.
Excuse me.
the county attorney who's
have a vacancies.
>> He does,
>> but he reported.
>> Uh, wait a minute.
>> He reported his last meeting that he had
somebody
or was that
wasn't Wasn't didn't she depart? Didn't
he replace that?
>> Yeah. Yes, he did have turnover, but he
replaced it relatively quickly.
>> Um what happened in there to create the
deficit is two items came in that um
they were quoted at the end of last year
for the budget year and then when the
actual invoices came in, they increased
the prices on them and one was under
software support and the other was under
data storage.
Um so that created a deficit on those
two areas.
>> So I mean some of these departments are
projected over they looking to find
other areas within their department to
say
>> the county attorney office.
>> I reached out to him and I haven't heard
back yet.
>> Right. So
>> because I'm looking for him to let me
know if he knows of somewhere in here
that he's going to save to make up for
that.
>> Yeah. Right. Yeah, we kind of need to
make sure that they
>> Well, in it, we have a plan as well.
>> It we do have a plan. Um, it's not
reflected there quite yet because I'm
waiting on a final invoice.
>> Two at the moment, I think. So, I do
believe so.
based on the audit breakdown, it looks
like we negotiate about a $38 million
budget with the delegation fiscal year
26 and we have about a $1.3 million
cushion above that. Is that correct
in terms of a surplus? I saw
>> for for
>> because that and I could be wrong.
>> In order to keep the fund balance within
where we want it to be,
>> that would leave us with a surplus or a
cushion above and beyond we request and
received. We budgeted for 38 million,
but looks like we have 39.3 at the end
of the year. Is that correct,
>> Flyn?
on one of those pages.
>> 3.7 3
>> 3.7 was so so the so the the undesated
fund balance at the end of December 3125
was 5.9
>> the to be used to offset this year was
$2 million. So that's how they got to
3.9 is what is basically our starting
fund balance as of January 1 26
>> able to be
>> 3.9
okay I'm just looking ahead to when we
start preparing the 27th budget right
yeah okay
>> so really we're looking at what our 26
excess revenue and operational savings
right now it's sitting about 1.1 1.2
two. That would be what our our
recommend recommendation would be to use
use in fund balance for 27.
>> Got it.
>> Based off of our halls.
>> So, overall good numbers from you and
good numbers from Mr. M. So,
>> yes,
>> it's a good day for the county.
>> Thanks, sir.
>> Um, and then I can forward the
financials as well as the management
level, whatever they sent. Um, do you
want me to just send that to you in an
email?
>> That would be fine.
>> Yeah. And everybody would like that.
Yes.
>> We have a couple along really just one
thing for other business. I received a
request from the Belmap County um
conservation commission. They are
working with the town of Meredith's
Conservation Commission uh to apply for
some funding to install uh stream
habitat restorations
uh in Merillbrook and Hermit Brook. Um
they're looking for a letter of support
from the commissioners um you know to
include in their grant package.
>> Sure. Um, they're applying for the Moose
uh, play grant through the state of New
Hampshire. Um, and you all have done
something similar before, but I just
wanted to get your blessing.
>> Uh, and who are they soliciting funds
from again?
>> Uh, it's for it's the state of New
Hampshire's Moose Plate grant program.
>> can they request a specific numberation?
>> Um, they
have
I don't have that information. She did
send me the packet, but I didn't bring
the whole packet with me today. Um,
I don't know the exact amount I'm
looking for.
>> Uh, we're happy to support this effort.
Uh, do we know or can we find out who
the contact person is on on the on the
request side?
>> Oh, yes. Lisa has shared all that with
me. It's going to be uh the state of New
Hampshire Conservation Commission. Um,
like I said, their their moose grape uh
their moose plate grant program. Um, and
I already have a letter drafted I can
share with you all. Absolutely. See, it
>> you're happy to do that and I was I hope
it's successful.
>> Agreed.
Wonderful. So, I'll put that together
and I'll share the letter with you all
so you can see it. And that's really the
only thing I I have uh this evening. Oh,
it's Scott Powell. He's the Meredith
Conservation Commission chair. He's
actually the one who's submitting the
application. It's just with support from
Belnap Countyy's Conservation
Commission.
>> Path would support that effort.
>> Awesome.
>> Do we have any public comments? No. And
I'm just going to say the only other
thing you have in your packet this
evening is we did submit our letter to
the opioid uh commission that was due by
September 1. Um outlining the 97 and
change 97,000 and change that we um
spent this year with the funding that
they provide. U it helps with the core
program and also for wages and benefits
for the full-time case manager.
>> So you posted August 21st. It was due
September 1st.
>> Yes. And I spoke to Jim um the vetting
today.
>> Yeah. Yeah, Jim is always complaining
because a lot of the other counties are
targeting this report. So, thank you for
getting it out with time to spare
because it's always I think it's a bad
look when he tells us the county's adult
response. They should and m Michelle
will support that because she's now that
commission.
>> Oh, definitely. Like I said, and he
reached out today just confirming
receipt of it. He had a couple
questions, but you know, nothing.
>> Okay, good. Good. Thank you for that.
>> I guess we can go into the public. Okay.
Uh, roll call vote.
>> Yes, indeed.
>> All right. Uh, Commissioner Wing,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Spanos,
>> And Commissioner Hodge. Yes. All right.
that uh so