Portsmouth City Council will take its first look Monday night at the city’s 2026 Capital Improvement budget — a roughly $1.87 million spending plan that covers everything from police gear to paving streets.
And remember: this is just round one. Ordinances have to go through three readings before council can actually vote on them.
💰 The Big Picture
Most of the money comes from income tax funds and is set aside for long-term improvements — not day-to-day bills.
Total spending in the plan:
- $1,847,800 for projects
- $22,400 in internal cost allocations
- Grand total: $1,870,200
🚓 Police & Safety: The Biggest Slice
The largest chunk of money is going toward public safety.
- 5 new police vehicles – $336,000
- Body camera upgrades – $69,000 (first of several payments)
- Radio equipment – $94,000
- Protective gear – $35,000
- New computers – $32,000
Total for police: $566,000
👉 Translation: keeping officers equipped, updated, and on the road.
⚖️ Yes… Tasers Are in There
The municipal court budget includes:
- Tasers – $28,000
- Storage cleanout project – $46,000
Total: $74,000
👉 Not flashy, but very real — this is about courtroom and enforcement safety.
🚒 Fire Department Upgrades
Fire services are getting:
- New command vehicle – $129,500
- New equipment – $60,000
- Radio upgrades – $31,500
- Building improvements – $20,000
Total: $241,000
👉 Think better response tools and safer operations.
🚧 Roads, Streets & Traffic
This is the part most residents will actually see.
- Street resurfacing – $500,000
- Road striping & signals – $60,000
- Guardrail replacement – $25,000
- Street sweeper payment – $52,000
Total: $637,000+ combined street-related spending
👉 In plain English: fixing roads, repainting lines, and keeping things drivable.
🌳 Parks & Quality of Life
Not a huge number, but it’s there:
- Earlytown Park improvements – $25,000
👉 Smaller investment, but still aimed at keeping public spaces usable.
🏛️ Other Odds and Ends
A mix of behind-the-scenes spending:
- City building lease payment – $41,800
- Cemetery repairs (mausoleum roof) – $55,000
- Community development projects (including river path extension) – $104,000
- Health department equipment/software – $20,000
- Office furniture and tech upgrades across departments
👉 Not glamorous, but this is the “keep the city running” category.
🧾 Bottom Line
This budget isn’t about anything flashy or controversial — it’s mostly nuts-and-bolts city spending:
- Keep police and fire equipped
- Fix roads
- Maintain buildings
- Make small upgrades to parks and public spaces
Now it heads into the three-reading process, so council members — and the public — still have time to weigh in before any final vote.
