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NASHUA – Mayor Jim Donchess talked about the coming property tax increase, COVID-19 recovery, the Performing Arts Center and more in a wide-ranging interview for The Telegraph’s new podcast, It’s OUR Community.

The podcast debuts today on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, Google Podcasts, RadioPublic, Pocket Casts, Breaker and Anchor. The podcast also will be available on Apple Podcasts, Overcast and Castbox in the coming days.

The weekly, interview style podcast will be released every Friday, with updates available on guests and exact release times on our social media pages. Several bonus episodes also will released throughout the year.

“This is an exciting new platform we are branching out on,” said Publisher and Editor in Chief Matt Burdette.

“It’s exciting to be able to reach new people and offer additional content to our already-faithful readers.”

“Each week, we will talk with local residents, elected officials, business leaders and others about a variety of issues facing those in Greater Hudson, Greater Nashua, the Souhegan Valley and all over the Granite State,” Burdette added. “We hope everyone enjoys this fun new offering.”

Following are a couple small snippets from the first episode with Donchess:

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PROPERTY TAXES

“The hardworking taxpayers of Nashua deserve the lowest tax rate you can possibly deliver. Looking back for the last four or five years, we have averaged about 2.5%. The last two years, the ta rate has went up 2.6% and 3.9%, for a little over 6, 6.55%. A large proportion of that was due to the increase in health care costs. Health care went up over those two years up $6 million, which amounts to 3% on the taxes. … We developed a plan, which is working, to reduce the rate of increase in the health care by reforming the HMO offering, by encouraging people to elect an option that has all been available, the medical savings plan. … And third, encouraging the use of smart shopper. … I think we are beating the rising health care costs. But what’s happening now. … I this is two things that’s problematic. First of all, the state has just slammed the city with an almost $12 million hit on property taxes. So what they have done is they, few months ago, notified the city that out pension bill is going up by $.4.4 million, over and above any increase on wages. Then, they have notified us that school aid is going to be down $7.4 million.”

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PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

“The demolition of the front of the building, the walls of the section built in the 1960s, will begin within the next couple months. And, construction should be done in the summer or fall of 2022, next year. The Performing Arts Center is a project that will benefit everyone. … It is designed, yes, to provide entertainment, but, to bring tens of thousands of people downtown who will help patronize small businesses, build a stronger downtown economy. But also, to attract private investment into the downtown, which will build a stronger tax base and increase tax revenue.”

Listen to the entire hour-long podcast for more.

Next week’s guest will be Judy Porter, the activities director for the Nashua Senior Activity Center.

For those needing assistance in accessing The Telegraph’s It’s OUR Community podcast, call or email Burdette at 603-594-1240 or mburdette@nashuatelegraph.com.

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DIRECT PODCAST LINKS

https://www.breaker.audio/its-our-community

https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy81MDc4MTY0NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

https://radiopublic.com/its-our-community-G7B1En