Newmarket 101: The CIP

A note about this post: One of the reasons I started writing the blog was to help people understand our local government here in Newmarket. This topic came up via social media and I thought it was something people should know more about. Please see this previous post to see why I think you should be paying attention to the CIP. 

Recently someone suggested that we (the Town and School) should save money for big projects so that we aren't hit with big expenses all at once. The town does have such a program, called the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Here are some facts about the CIP:

What is the CIP?  
The NH Office of Energy and Planning describes the goal of a capital improvement program:  "The capital improvement program links local infrastructure investments with master plan goals, land use ordinances, and economic development. A capital improvements program bridges the gap between planning and spending, between the visions of the master plan and the fiscal realities of improving and expanding community facilities."
The role of the CIP in Newmarket is spelled out in Section 5.7 of our Town Charter.

Who is on the CIP? 
The makeup of the committee has recently changed due to an amendment of our town charter. The committee will now consist of 6 voting members, including representatives from the Town Council, Planning Board, School Board, Budget Committee and 2 members of the public at large. 

Does Newmarket have a master plan?  
Yes. You can find it here.


Does the school participate? 
The school has relied on a group of trust funds, but will begin participating in the CIP plan in accordance with State law and as per the revision to the town charter which was approved by voters on March 11.  

How is money appropriated?  
Money is appropriated through the town's budget process. Not sure how the school exactly the school will manage this.


How much money do we have in our CIP accounts now?   
Here is a chart with the current amounts:


What does this mean to me? 
A couple of things. For one, it's important to know that this community does plan for the future. The CIP and the master plan are more than just documents--they are expressions of how our community sees itself now and in the future. Becoming a member of the CIP is another chance people in our community have to contribute and help move Newmarket forward.




I hope you find this information useful. Knowing the programs we have in place will help us all to understand the process of our local government and where we can best help.