-- For school expenditures: Like most towns, Hanover spends about 70% of its property tax revenue to fund the public schools (with 50% of that to the Hanover School District for elementary education, 45% to the Dresden School District for middle- and high-school education, and 5% to the state of New Hampshire for state education taxes).

Detailed information about the school budget is mailed to all taxpayers yearly in February, as a part of the school district annual report mailed before the annual school district meetings. Copies are also available at Town Hall, in the town libraries, in the schools, and in the school district office.

-- For municipal expenditures: About 30% of the property tax revenue goes to Hanover’s municipal budget to finance police, fire, public works, libraries, parks and recreation, administration, and other public services. Although municipal activity accounts for over 55% of Hanover’s annual budget, much of this activity is funded by service fees (e.g., for sewer, parking, and ambulance).

Detailed information about the municipal budget is mailed to local taxpayers yearly in April, as a part of the town annual report sent before Town Meeting. Copies are also available at Town Hall and in the town libraries.

Understanding two terms may help your understanding of the municipal budget.

• Municipal budget: The municipal fiscal year begins July 1. Starting in November, all departments, committees, and others requesting town appropriations submit budget proposals. Town administrators meet with these groups and derive a line-by-line budget proposal. During February and March, the budget is discussed in detail at a series of public meetings of the Select Board. The Board approves a final budget proposal in mid- to late-March. Finally, the proposal is discussed, possibly amended, and voted at Town Meeting in May.

• School district budgets: The schools’ fiscal year also begins July 1. Starting in October, administrators at the three schools draft their proposed budgets. In November, the principals and the district administrators review these budgets and compile them for the school boards. After receiving the proposed budget in December, the school boards hold a series of open meetings/public hearings in January, during which budgets are discussed in detail. Hanover voters discuss and vote on the final budget at the annual School District Meetings in March. For the Dresden district and Hanover district, the vote is by ballot, so the budget may not be amended. Until 2005,  the Hanover district vote was during an open meeting, so the budget could be amended.