Latest news with #Ruais
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Manchester school board warns language in budget trailer bill could cost city schools $10.2M
The Manchester school board is sending a letter to state legislators sounding the alarm about a small section — six lines, to be exact — in the state budget trailer bill (HB 2) that would cost the school district approximately $10.2 million next fiscal year. Page 70 of the bill includes language establishing what is essentially a cap on targeted aid for larger school districts. For districts with 5,000 or more students, the bill seeks to subtract from targeted state aid until the amount decreases to $3,750 per student. The cap would effectively cut Manchester's adequacy aid from $127.8 million under current law to just under $117.6 million — a cut of more than $10.2 million. By comparison, the city of Nashua would see its targeted aid jump by more than $1.2 million under the new language, from $83.2 million to $84.4 million. 'As far as we can tell, Manchester is the only municipality in New Hampshire that stands to lose money because of this cap on targeted aid,' the letter from Manchester's school board to the Legislature's Committee of Conference says. 'Such a loss would put at risk our ability to best serve the educational needs of our students.' The state's education aid formula was tweaked in response to Manchester getting a bonus from the introduction of the Extraordinary Needs Grant in 2021, a more than $30 million annual increase. The amendment limits that bonus and will lead to Manchester getting more than $10 million less than it gets now. The amendment received support from members of both parties, because the $10 million is being shared by other income- and property-poor communities like Berlin, Claremont and Franklin. Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais said Tuesday he has been in contact with some of the committee members, who will likely begin meeting later this week. "I am reaching out to the conferees to gather information and develop a course of action to address this issue," Ruais said. School board member Bob Baines, a former mayor and educator, said he spoke to Gov. Kelly Ayotte about the targeted cap last week. 'We've been in touch with various representatives, but this needs to be watched very, very carefully in the (Legislature's) Committee of Conference,' Baines said. 'Can you imagine the devastation that will occur in Manchester, the most significant devastation possible in our public schools. We all need to work on that with our representatives, because I think in any big government bill — no matter how big and beautiful it is — some people don't read it and don't understand. 'Why would Manchester be singled out as the only community in the state of New Hampshire that would lose funding? If you care about Manchester, we should get that funding — we planned on it.' School board member Sean Parr drafted the letter and gathered the signatures of fellow board members this week. 'We are hoping to reach out to the Committee of Conference to let them know that it has this particular effect only on Manchester,' Parr said. 'I think it would be good for us to at least explain the situation, tell them that it's a significant impact to our budget in its current form, and to ask that they reconsider that part of the budget proposal.' In the letter, school board members urge committee members to reconsider the 'targeted cap' portion of the bill, warning the proposed budget could lead to 'harmful cuts and reductions to student services.' School officials point out that despite being the largest school district in New Hampshire with nearly 12,000 students, Manchester ranks at the bottom of the state in per-pupil spending, with over 53% of students qualifying for free and reduced-price meals, 20% multilingual learners, and 23% special education students. 'The proposed reductions would therefore have devastating consequences for our students, our educators, and ultimately, the future of our city,' the letter says. 'We welcome the opportunity to engage in continued dialogue, and we hope that you will collaborate in crafting a budget that reflects the values, priorities, and long-term vision of a thriving state with excellent public schools.' pfeely@
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Manchester reaches tentative deals with 10 city unions
Manchester officials announced Monday the city has reached tentative agreements with 10 city unions whose deals are set to expire at the end of the current fiscal year on June 30. Mayor Jay Ruais said the agreements were reached after several months of negotiations. The 10 unions are: AFSCME Council 93, Local 298 Facilities; AFSCME Council 93, Local 298 Central Fleet; AFSCME Council 93, Local 298 Health; AFSCME Council 93, Local 298 Highway, Parks & Environmental Protection Division; Manchester Professional Firefighters Association-Local 856; Manchester Association of Fire Supervisors-3820; Police Professional Staff Association; Teamsters Local 633 (Airport); City Library Teamsters Local 633; and Teamsters Local 633 Welfare Department. Current contracts with the Manchester Police Patrolman's Association and the Manchester Association of Police Supervisors run until June 30, 2026. As of Monday, all 10 unions have voted to ratify their tentative agreements with an effective start date of July 1, 2025. The agreements will now be presented to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for approval. Given the city's open enrollment period for health care coverage begins in early May, Ruais has asked aldermen to suspend their rules and vote on the tentative agreements at their meeting Tuesday, May 6, (rather than have them lay over two weeks) so open enrollment can proceed 'in a timely manner with no disruptions.' Ruais thanked Director of Human Resources Lisa Drabik and members of the city's negotiating team and representatives from the 10 unions for their efforts. 'Their good-faith bargaining regarding these new two-year contracts is the reason we were able to reach agreement months before the old ones expired,' Ruais said, adding that the unions represent "the very backbone of our city." "Additionally, I want to thank our aldermen for their continued commitment to our city employees, and the taxpayers, over the course of the negotiation process.' Minimum raise 3% Each of the tentative agreements contains language that effective July 1, employees will be placed on the new pay and classification plan (at the closest step to their wages as of June 30), which guarantees a minimum of a 3% raise. Effective July 1, when an employee reaches their 15th consecutive year of service, they will receive a 3% retention incentive raise. This doesn't apply to employees who have already received a longevity/retention incentive raise for 15 consecutive years of service with the city . Effective July 1, 2026, the new pay and classification plan will be increased by a 2% cost of living adjustment. The tentative contract with the firefighters union contains new language that members deployed by the Manchester Fire Department locally, regionally or nationally will be paid at time and a half their hourly rate for hours worked while on deployment. Deployed members will be selected by the fire chief or designee. The tentative agreement also contains language on a new Alternate Duty Program, designed to provide alternative work assignments for members unable to perform their normal assignments due to injury or illness. Alternate duty will be available on a case-by-case basis and not last longer than 180 calendar days. Assignments will be offered depending on department needs, position availability, and the skills, physical limitations and qualifications of the member. Manchester currently employs about 1,300 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees. Of those, approximately 860 are in union-covered positions. Unions representing School District employees are separate. Once ratified, the new contracts will run from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027. pfeely@
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bonilla to run for Manchester Ward 5 alderman; Ruais raises more than $400K
The calendar flipping from March to April means municipal elections in Manchester brought two more announcements on the local political landscape this week. Jason Bonilla, school board member from Ward 5, announced he will run for alderman this year, while Mayor Jay Ruais announced his reelection campaign has pulled in an impressive financial haul in just a few weeks. Bonilla announced his candidacy for the Ward 5 alderman seat this week in a video posted on social media. Speaking in both Spanish and English, Bonilla said he's ready to move 'on to the next chapter.' 'I'm running for alderman in Ward 5 to support all of our city departments, including our public schools, and to strengthen our businesses, especially our local ones,' Bonilla said. 'I will fight to keep our streets and parks clean and safe, to ensure our sidewalks are accessible and our roads are well maintained, and work with law enforcement to remove fentanyl and opioids from our streets.' Bonilla said he is also committed to tackling the housing crisis, ensuring affordable options and reducing homelessness. 'I will do this by collaborating with local organizations and city departments, because no one in our community should be forgotten,' Bonilla said. Bonilla was appointed to the Board of School Committee in 2021, after Jeremy Dobson resigned his seat prior to moving out of the city. Bonilla was elected to the school board in 2023. Bonilla, a Salvadoran American, worked with AmeriCorps for two years in the Boston and Washington, D.C., public schools 'showing black and brown youth that we existed, that we were out here ready to advocate for them, to listen to them, and to push to them to follow their dreams.' Bonilla landed a career as a recruiter for City Year in Manchester, going from 'squeegeeing throw-up at Forest Hills' in Boston to recruiting young people of color across the region to serve as peer mentors in the Queen City. Bonilla was nominated for the Ward 5 school board seat by current Ward 5 Alderman Tony Sapienza. Attempts to reach Sapienza for comment on whether he intends to seek reelection this fall were unsuccessful. Also this week, Ruais's campaign said nine weeks after formally launching his reelection bid, the incumbent mayor has raised more than $400,000, with more than $350,000 cash on hand. Campaign officials said Ruais has already knocked on more than 250 doors, and placed more than 25 yard signs. 'I am humbled by the continued outpouring of support we have received since launching our reelection campaign,' Ruais said. 'We have always campaigned like we are 10 points behind, and will take nothing for granted as we ask the people of Manchester to place their trust in me to lead our beloved city for another two years.' pfeely@
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Manchester aldermen OK amended agreement with state to keep women's shelter open
Mar. 19—Manchester aldermen have approved an amended agreement between city and state officials to continue using the Tirrell House on Brook Street as a shelter for women and children through June 2027. The Beacon on Brook Street Shelter for women and children is a program of Light of Life Ministries that opened in January 2024, with American Rescue Plan Act funds approved by the city. The shelter houses 16 women. Officials say since the site opened, each bed has been filled "every day" with a waiting list of approximately 30-45 women at any given time. The agreement was approved unanimously on a voice vote Tuesday night by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. In a letter to aldermen, Mayor Jay Ruais reports the Beacon on Brook Street Shelter has had "significant, positive, outcomes in a very short period of time." According to Ruais, during its first year of operation, 58 unhoused individuals were served — 42 households and 16 children. In the past 10 months, 45% have moved on to permanent or temporary housing and 74% of the women served last year stayed at the shelter between three months and a year, demonstrating that the women are "working with case managers and resident assistants in a meaningful way," Ruais wrote. "Beacon on Brook is not simply an emergency shelter — they are establishing a care plan within the first week that individuals arrive," Ruais said. "Staff is on site 24 hours per day, 7 days a week to ensure compliance with rules, while assisting women who are addressing barriers, such as substance use disorder, mental health concerns, domestic violence, benefits, housing services, and much more." The amended agreement is effective upon approval by Gov. Kelly Ayotte and the Executive Council and runs through June 30, 2027. The agreement may be terminated by either party for any reason with 60 days written notice. Tirrell House at 15 Brook St. includes an approximately 4,000-square-foot, three-story building, an approximately 552-square-foot outbuilding and four parking spaces. In January 2023, the city announced it was partnering with YWCA New Hampshire to provide staffing and wraparound services at Tirrell House, formerly home to a men's transitional living program operated by Families in Transition until November 2022. Use of the Tirrell House was requested by former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and seven other New Hampshire mayors in a letter sent to former Gov. Chris Sununu and other state officials to address a statewide shortage of emergency shelter beds for women experiencing homelessness. In July 2023, YWCA NH made the decision to close the shelter after operating the site for about six months. "We've tried everything and looked everywhere, but have not been able to raise the money. Everyone that might help appears to be out of funds," YWCA NH Chief Executive Jessica Cantin said in a news release at the time. In October 2023, city aldermen approved $3.85 million of federal ARPA and HOME funds for Affordable and Supportive Housing Initiatives in Manchester, including reopening the women's shelter in partnership with Light of Life Ministries. Light of Life Ministries received $767,517 to operate the shelter at 15 Brook St. for 2-3 years.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Manchester aldermen allocate funds for mobile crisis unit, transitional housing
Mar. 6—Manchester aldermen voted this week to allocate additional funds to go toward a mobile crisis unit and additional transitional housing, part of ongoing efforts to reduce homelessness and substance abuse in the state's largest city. Aldermen approved two major initiatives Tuesday night — transferring $201,000 in opioid abatement funds to Hope for NH Recovery for a mobile crisis unit and case manager, and allocating $250,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust fund to create up to 30 transitional housing beds. "We are making real progress addressing homelessness and reducing drug overdoses, so now is not the time to take our eye off the ball," Mayor Jay Ruais said. "I've always said, we must address this in a comprehensive fashion, and these three initiatives do that with a focus on law enforcement, addressing the underlying drivers while providing for affordable housing." Ruais said Manchester currently has 230 transitional beds, creating a "major barrier" in moving individuals from shelters into stable housing. "Expanding capacity is important to breaking this cycle," Ruais said. The St. Anne's Parish building at 231 Merrimack St. has the potential to house up to 30 individuals in 16 rooms, increasing transitional housing capacity by 13%, Ruais said. "For $250,000, this proposal will create more than three times as many beds, while lowering rents to an amount not to exceed $750.75 per month — delivering significantly greater impact at a lower cost per resident," he said. Ruais said the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund was created "precisely to support initiatives like this, projects that expand housing opportunities" for those in need. "The administration manual for the fund specifically states 'AHT funds can be used for projects that provide temporary or permanent housing to low or moderate-income households as that term is defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development,'" Ruais said. Affordable housing in Manchester is currently defined as costing between $1,200 to $1,800 per month depending on unit size. "This initiative allows us to provide stable, affordable housing while keeping costs sustainable for both tenants and the city," Ruais said. The Affordable Housing Trust Fund currently holds nearly $1.15 million, with additional revenue expected from spring parcel auctions. "This ensures that funding this initiative will not compromise future projects, making now the ideal time for investment," Ruais said. "This model is about strategic placement, not just housing availability. We will identify individuals ready for stable living arrangements, ensuring they have the best chance for long-term success." Residents will sign 18 — to 24-month leases at the high barrier transitional living facility, with "rules in place," officials said. A high barrier facility is defined as a place that provides services but also has rules that must be followed to stay there. "At the end of their term, they will have had the opportunity to address underlying challenges and save up for their own place, much like what is done at Liberty House," Ruais said. "Once a resident moves on, another individual will be placed in their unit-continuing to reduce the number of people in shelters and on our streets. This is precisely the type of continuum Manchester needs."
