KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Keene Mayor Jay Kahn covered a wide range of topics during his monthly appearance on WKBK’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell, discussing everything from the city’s new budget and rising property taxes to the start of the long-awaited downtown infrastructure project and the success of the Monadnock 250 celebrations.

The interview began with a look back at the Fourth of July weekend, with Kahn praising the volunteers, city staff and community organizations that helped make the Monadnock 250 festivities a success. He described the parade and downtown celebration as a memorable display of community pride, highlighting strong attendance, live music, family activities and fireworks.

Kahn also credited City Councilor Molly Ellis and numerous volunteers for coordinating the parade and noted that Keene’s calendar of community events will continue throughout the summer and fall despite construction downtown. Art in the Park, Pumpkin Festival activities, concerts and other events are expected to continue, with some temporarily relocated while work is underway.

Much of the conversation focused on the city’s fiscal year 2027 budget, which took effect July 1 and includes an 8% increase in Keene’s portion of the property tax. Kahn said the budget was developed through a transparent process but acknowledged the financial challenges facing residents.

He pointed to reductions in state aid as a significant factor behind local tax increases, saying municipalities continue to absorb costs that were once shared by the state. Among the areas discussed were homelessness, welfare assistance, retirement system funding and revenue sharing.

Kahn also addressed the city’s financial support for nonprofit organizations, noting that those agencies account for only a small portion of the municipal budget while providing services such as food assistance, transportation, housing and other programs that would otherwise become the city’s responsibility.

The mayor said the City Council is reviewing its policies for funding outside agencies to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent effectively while continuing to support organizations that provide essential community services. He also defended recent funding for arts organizations, saying arts and cultural programs contribute significantly to Keene’s quality of life and economic vitality.

The discussion turned to balancing taxpayer concerns with the need to maintain city infrastructure. Kahn acknowledged that Keene has reached what he described as a financial “pinch point,” where officials must carefully evaluate which projects can be delayed and which remain essential.

He said investments in water and sewer infrastructure and the downtown reconstruction project cannot be postponed indefinitely because they are critical to public safety, reliability and the city’s long-term economic health.

Public safety staffing was another major topic. Kahn explained the city’s decision to add four firefighters — one on each shift — in hopes of reducing costly overtime associated with ambulance service while maintaining emergency response capabilities. He said city officials will monitor whether the additional staffing produces the anticipated savings.

The mayor also discussed ongoing recruitment challenges for law enforcement agencies across New Hampshire, saying local police departments continue to compete with larger agencies and federal employers for qualified officers.

Callers to the program raised concerns about property revaluations, rising taxes, Social Security and the financial strain facing seniors on fixed incomes. Kahn said many of those issues ultimately require action at the state or federal level and expressed support for exploring programs such as property tax circuit breakers to provide relief for qualifying homeowners.

The conversation concluded with a preview of the city’s long-awaited Main Street infrastructure project, which officially begins this week. Kahn encouraged residents to attend the “Coffee, Hard Hats and Shovels” kickoff event at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Transportation Center, where city officials and contractors will mark the start of construction.

Listen to the full interview: