AFFORDABLE LEBANON

Let's Set a New Course Together

I will use my experiences, abilities, and resolve to work collaboratively to find solutions to our problems and to maintain the socioeconomic diversity of our community.

ABOUT ME

Candidate For

Fiscal Accountability and a Thriving Community

I’m running for the Lebanon City Council Ward 3 seat. My journey to this decision began in 2024 when the city manager warned residents and businesses about the need to increase our municipal taxes by 12% or more, year over year, for at least the next 4 years. That meant a municipal tax increase of over 50% by the end of 2028.

I consider myself an independent voter who strongly believes in fiscal accountability and social progress.

I have lived and worked in this community since 1980 and I’ve witnessed its growth and potential. Over the past year, I've been reaching out to my fellow residents, as a founding member of the non-partisan Lebanon Residents Tax Coalition. I managed a successful petition drive for a Finance Advisory Committee and witnessed firsthand the anxiety of homeowners who fear they are being priced out of Lebanon. Much more action needs to come from our Council to change the course of unsustainable property tax increases. Our residents deserve better and that will only come with a slate of new councilors who have the courage to look for solutions that work for everyone.

PRIORITIES

Achieve a Sustainable Budget

Create a Strategic Plan that Focuses First on Living Within our Means

Preserve the Best of What Lebanon Offers our Community

Per the NH Department of Revenue Management, Lebanon’s taxes increased by 4.4% (2023), 7.0% (2024), and 7.8% (2025). This resulted in an overall tax increase of ~22% over the period due to compounding and this is not sustainable. Many residential property owners have been clear that they are struggling to afford to live in Lebanon and are being priced out of their homes; this will trickle down to renters.

GOAL: Establish an aggressive General Fund budget goal, such as a return to 2022 levels. I pledge to make sure future budgets align with the reality of our taxpayers ability to pay.

Refocus budgets on meeting the current needs of our residents that recognizes the constraints of our local economy. The city budget has grown from $61 Million 5 years ago, with a huge spike of $118 Million in 2024 and $84 Million today. Residential property owners share the burden of the largest portion of all municipal and school taxes due to the relatively higher growth in property values as opposed to commercial/industrial properties. The Council needs to switch the conversation from inflation and state pressures to how the City must adapt to these challenges.
Utilize the Finance Advisory Committee to take a deeper look at every expenditure and revenue source and to provide well-informed opinions and suggestions to the Council. I worked diligently to bring the concept of this Committee to reality
Look both internally and externally (benchmarking) for potential opportunities to reduce current spending and to augment revenue generation
Consider the impacts of future borrowing; The 5 Year Capital Improvement Plan approved in 2025 is $89 Million. Every project on this list must have a feasibility evaluation, including tax impact, before approval by the Council. Debt service is over 12% of the total city budget; it rose by 14.65% from 2024 to 2025, yet Lebanon continues to accrue more debt than what is being paid down annually.

Currently the “strategic plan” which is supposed to reflect the Master Plan (last updated in 2012) lacks strategy, as the plan is more of a wish list of projects with little to no thought of “if we do this, we may have to do less of that” or “if we do that, we can stop doing this.” There is no apparent thought about changing current conditions.

GOAL: Explicitly make financial security/sustainability a central part of strategic planning. I pledge to assure annual strategic planning is based on a full analysis of current conditions, including external factors, internal capabilities, and promotes, not diminishes, the socioeconomic diversity of our community.

The council needs to reflect on how each action taken supports their own Guiding Principles: “All actions and policies of the government of the City of Lebanon shall, first and foremost, benefit the current residents of the City of Lebanon".

We must get away from the philosophy of “it will cost more later than doing it now, so let’s just proceed.”

Separate and prioritize both needs and wants. We should focus first on what are truly necessary services that meet the needs of everyone, taking into consideration the socioeconomic diversity of our community, then consider what “wants” should take priority.
We must have the discipline to curb GF new spending until we have full recognition of the impact on the current taxpayers
We are only as strong as our ability to think of innovative solutions. This must include rethinking how the relationship between the City and Dartmouth Health and Dartmouth College can become win/win. We simply cannot expect taxpayers to continue carrying the water for these very large non-profits.

Currently Lebanon supports an array of social, cultural, and recreational services enjoyed by Lebanon and surrounding communities. In particular, the General Fund supports two libraries, many social services, and has a vibrant recreation department.

GOAL: Assure Lebanon remains a safe environment where all our citizens and businesses can thrive. I pledge to support actions and solutions to our problems that fairly balance the safety, social, and fiscal realities of our community

While safety is an imperative, we need to look closely at the contracts for EMS services we provide to neighboring towns. Although these services do generate revenue, it hasn’t been covering the full cost to Lebanon. Additionally, the cost of the new fire station (~ $21,000,000) needs to be factored into any agreement, since one reason for the need to replace the existing fire station is to accommodate additional equipment/personnel needs of our expanded EMS services.
We are only as strong as the weakest among us but we must increase involvement with surrounding communities to more fairly share the financial burden that providing social services brings. Understandably, people in need will go where support is provided. Lebanon’s scope and financial support of social services outpaces our NH neighboring communities, despite Lebanon having a lower Median Household Income than any abutting municipalities. Lebanon is $92,000 Enfield $97,000; Plainfield $119,000; Grantham $114,000; Hanover $167,000
Wellness requires recreation. While many residents are at or over the tipping point of being able to keep pace with their taxes and stay in their homes, it is time to consider more intentional efforts to encourage businesses and charitable organizations to sponsor recreation department funding

What You Can Expect From Me

I’ll work tirelessly to represent your voice in all Council matters. As a new member of the Council, I will bring a greater level of rigor over deliberations by making certain all relevant information regarding benefits and tradeoffs that may affect residents has been fully considered before votes are cast. I’m committed to ensuring every family in our community has the opportunity to thrive here.