Last night, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a change in tax exemption amounts, in light of value changes due to the Citywide revaluation this year.
For disabled and elderly residents aged 65-74, benefit amounts are increasing from $109,500 to $156,000. Elderly residents aged 75-79 have benefit amounts increasing from $148,500 to $210,000 and elderly residents aged 80+ have benefit amounts increasing from $195,500 to $280,000. Blind residents are also seeing an increase in benefits, from $135,500 to $156,000.
Earlier this year, elderly and disabled tax exemptions were expanded for the first time since 2014, making benefits available to more Manchester residents.
“This will help many of our seniors who live on low and fixed incomes, while the costs they face, especially with healthcare and housing, continue to grow,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “I want to thank the Board of Assessors for initiating this needed expansion of benefits and encourage everyone who thinks they may qualify to contact the Assessor’s Office.”
To qualify for the elderly exception, a person must be 65 years or older, must be a resident of New Hampshire for three consecutive years, must be the owner of record of the property in question and must have income and assets that do not exceed the above limits. To qualify for the exemption for the disabled, a person must be eligible for payments under Title II or Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act, must have been a New Hampshire resident for at least 5 years, must be the owner of record, and must have income and assets that do not exceed the above limits.
All benefits apply to qualified residents who currently receive the elderly or disabled tax exemption. Any new individual looking to apply can do so after January 1st, before the April 15th deadline.
Anyone with additional questions can contact the Assessor’s Office at (603) 624-6520 or visit our website
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Join Manchester Parks & Rec Saturday, October 30th @ the JFK Coliseum from 2 PM to 4 PM for a Halloween Skate Party. Enjoy ice skating, a costume contest, and a photo booth.
Wear your Halloween costume and receive a goodie bag at the door.
Adults $5
Children/Seniors $3
Skate Rental $5
*Cash only*
Manchester Parks & Rec in conjunction with McIntyre Ski Area and the Manchester Historic Association present the Witch of Weston Tower.
The WITCH is Back! Make your way to McIntyre Ski Area for a ride up the mountain to the historic and spooky Weston Tower.
Open weekends in October! See the flyer below for more information.
The Witch of Weston Tower
Official Results for the Municipal Primary Election, including the results of the Citywide recount of the Mayor's Race held on Friday, October 1st are available on our Election Results page. A special "thank you" is in order for all the dedicated departmental staff, election officials, members of the Board of Recount, as well as the candidates themselves and their 42 observers who all worked together to ensure a comprehensive and accurate hand count of all election day ballots. A tremendous amount of planning, resources, and time are required to conduct a successful recount. Thank you to all who participated!
Once again, the recount results affirmed the reliability and accuracy of the Accuvote Optical Scan tabulators used during every election for the past twenty years in Manchester. A common interpretation of recount results we hear when candidates pick up a a few votes during a recount is that the machines must have made a mistake on election day or the results would still be the same. The reality is much different however.
Most often, ballot tabulators perform exactly as designed and it is the voter who inadvertently makes an error on their ballot. As we saw during the October recount, fifteen ballots cast on election day scanned by the tabulator as either "over voted" or "under voted" ballots ultimately went to one of the three mayoral candidates upon closer inspection and determination of voter intent by the Board of Recount. We saw instances on those ballots where voters, instead of completely filling the oval for their candidate of choice, they: circled the candidate's name; made two selections and then crossed out one; used checkmarks for their selection; etc.
The following example shows how to properly to fill out your ballot selections and some common mistakes to avoid. Remember, if you make a mistake on your ballot on election day, immediately contact an election official at your polling place and ask for replacement ballot.
Sample Ballots for the Municipal General Election on November 2, 2021, are now available for viewing online. Absentee ballots should be arriving during the week of October 11th and available to all absentee voters. If you have already requested your absentee ballot for the upcoming election, they will be mailed to you directly as soon as we receive our ballot delivery. If you still need to request your absentee ballot, application forms are available on our Voter Registration & Elections page.
2021 event also includes Downtown Trick-or-Treat
Today, Mayor Joyce Craig announced the fourth annual ‘Halloween at City Hall,’ scheduled for Friday, October 29, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Similar to last year, this event will also include ‘Downtown Trick-or-Treat,’ with trick-or-treaters encouraged to visit downtown participating businesses for a Halloween treat.
For two hours, students, parents, and children are invited to come downtown and get a free book from the Bookmobile, meet Mayor Craig and grab Halloween treats from participating downtown businesses.
“I’m excited to again offer a fun, and safe way for kids and families to trick-or-treat downtown this year,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “Every year I look forward to seeing families enjoying downtown, walking around, shopping and visiting our restaurants. I hope to see folks out again this year to celebrate Halloween a couple days early!”
Halloween at City Hall will take place outside in City Hall Plaza. Trick-or-Treating is scheduled in the City of Manchester for Sunday, October 31 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Organizations interested in participating in Downtown Trick-or-Treat should contact the Mayor’s Office at 603-624-6500 or mayor@manchesternh.gov
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Manchester Parks & Rec announces Stick & Puck will return to the West Side Ice Arena weekdays from 9 AM to 11 AM beginning Monday, October 4th. There is a $7 fee, and an adult must accompany anyone under the age of 16. Goalies skate for free.
Official Election Results from the Non-Partisan Municipal Primary and Special Ward 8 Municipal Elections are available on our webpage. There were 10,584 voters, or 18% of Manchester's registered voters, who showed up on a sunny Tuesday to cast ballots for several municipal offices; pushing the top candidates forward to square off in the November 2nd General Election later this Fall.
Also on the ballot, the question posed by the Board of Mayor & Aldermen on whether to establish a charter commission to review the City's charter over the next year. Voters, for the first time in Manchester's history, soundly rejected setting up a charter commission with only 40% of voters seeing a need to seat the commission in November. The final vote was 4,284 yes; 5,015 no with another 1,285 voters who chose not to vote on the question.
For additional election information including information on registering to vote before the next election and forms to request your absentee ballot, please visit our Voter Registration and Elections webpage.
Manchester Parks & Rec wants to see your spooky, scary, and funny pumpkins! Carve a pumpkin and submit a photo for a chance to win a prize. Please submit your photos by October 20th. Submit photos here.
The photos will be divided into four groups (Elementary School, Middle School, High School, and Adults) and voted on beginning October 21st, with the winners announced on October 27th.
If you have trouble submitting a photo, please call 624-6444.
Pumpkin Carving Competition Flyer
Manchester Water Works (MWW) was the recent recipient of three awards given out this year at the New England Water Works Association (NEWWA) Annual Conference.
MWW was awarded Utility of the Year for large utilities that serve greater than 50,000 people. The award was given for “MWW’s significant improvements to the water system infrastructure, customer service, staff training, and operations to further protect public health of the customers it serves.”
The award highlighted MWW’s continuing improvements to its system’s infrastructure and service to its customers noting the upgrades of Cohas and Oak Hill Pump Stations; construction of three water storage tanks on Mammoth Road and Josephine Drive (Londonderry); construction of the radial collector well on the Merrimack River and the beginning of construction of a 7.2 MG Water Treatment Plant on Kimball Road in Hooksett. Also noted was the recent signing of the Southern New Hampshire Interconnection Water Agreement with six towns and water systems south of Derry to bring water as far as Plaistow.
Power and Process Controls Manager Roger Gagnon was recipient of the Operator’s Meritorious Service Award given annually in recognition of special performance for continuous compliance with public health standards, consistent and outstanding contribution to plant maintenance, the development of new and/or modified equipment or significant process modifications to provide for more efficient and/or effective treatment, special efforts in the training of treatment plant operators and consistent and outstanding contribution to operation and/or maintenance of pump stations and reservoirs. Roger Gagnon’s dedication to Manchester Water Works since 1991 has been instrumental in keeping our Lakeshore Road Water Treatment Plant functioning at a nationally recognized high level.
MWW also received New England’s Best Tasting Water Award. Three independent judges taste “blind” water samples and collaborate to determine the winner who is automatically entered into the national Best Tasting Water contest held at the American Water Works Annual Conference and Exposition (AWWA ACE22) in San Antonio, Texas in June 2022. MWW is excited to win this regional contest once again and for the opportunity to compete nationally at ACE22!
Manchester Water Works did not expand and thrive over the past 150 years without outstanding contributions from dedicated and talented individuals. Throughout the generations of Mayors, Aldermen, Board Commissioners, Directors, Consultants and most importantly the hundreds of employees over the past eight generations, the men and women who physically built, maintained and made the water “work” for the safety and health of our community. For their contributions and dedication, MWW will always be proud and thankful.
Manchester Water Works thanks all of our Manchester and out-of-town customers for your continuing support in allowing us to serve you and helping to maintain our valued water resource.