GARRY RAYNO and News Releases
CONCORD — Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s first budget drew mixed reviews, often depending on the topic.
Her proposed budget would spend $16.5 billion in total funds over the next two fiscal years, a 6 percent increase, and would spend $6.7 billion in general funds, a 5 percent increase over the current biennium.
Revenue projections are almost identical to the $6.4 billion estimated for the current biennium and Ayotte’s budget projects a surplus of $14 million at the end of the next biennium June 30, 2027.
In her address she touted almost $100 million in state aid for special education, $10 million more for the community mental health centers, and a total of $1billion for services for people with developmental disabilities to maintain services with no wait list.
The University System of New Hampshire is projected to lose $16.5 million in state aid in the next biennium in her proposed budget, while its campuses struggle financially due to declining enrollments, stagnate tuition fees and one of the smallest amounts of state aid to higher education in the country.
The prison system would see reductions of $18 million in its budget for the biennium.
Senate President Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, and Senate Majority Leader Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, praised Ayotte’s work.
“Gov. Ayotte’s address is a great start to what looks to be a tough budget season. We will deliver a balanced budget for Granite Staters that focuses on the needs of New Hampshire’s most vulnerable citizens without raising taxes,” said Carson.
“I welcome the governor’s focus on education, public safety, and streamlining the permitting process for new housing,” said Birdsell. “These are all New Hampshire’s top priorities, and our budget will reflect that.”
Megan Tuttle, president of NEA-NH noted in January, more than a thousand voters attended the Kearsarge Regional School District deliberative session to overwhelmingly support public school funding and this week, more than 30,000 Granite Staters took action to protect learning opportunities for public school students.
“Time and again, New Hampshire residents are saying loud and clear that they support public education. We should all agree that every student deserves a quality education with qualified educators,” Tuttle said. “But that is not possible until the state of New Hampshire adequately funds public education – including special education.”
New Hampshire’s public schools are legally required to provide special education services – to the tune of $745 million total in 2024, she noted.
While the special education funding increase announced today is a step in the right direction and a sign that the governor has heard the outcry from voters, it is still a drop in the bucket compared to the cost borne by property taxpayers to fund our public schools.
Any budget that expands our state’s unaccountable voucher program will take more money away from public schools,
which are attended by nearly 90 percent of New Hampshire students and 95 percent of students with a disability, Tuttle said.
“Kids thrive when we ensure local public schools have the resources needed to foster a supportive learning environment. New Hampshire deserves – and needs – a state budget that fully funds public education and protects the rights of students with disabilities,” Tuttle said. “Gov. Ayotte’s budget proposal, however, falls short of delivering on that promise.”
NHGOP Chairman Jim MacEachern said “Gov. Ayotte’s budget is a win for every Granite Stater. Just like families across New Hampshire watch their spending and balance their checkbooks each day, Governor Ayotte is doing the same for our state.
“With the roadmap she has provided, Republicans in Concord will ensure our state remains the safest in the country, deliver education freedom for all public school students, and protect our New Hampshire Advantage with no new taxes.”
The Business and Industry Association praised the governor’s emphasis on the state’s affordable housing needs.
“The need to increase the supply of housing in New Hampshire is a top public policy priority for the BIA this session. We appreciate Gov. Ayotte’s focus on the housing supply crisis and how addressing this complex challenge is critical to maintaining and strengthening New Hampshire’s economic competitiveness,” said BIA President CEO Michael Skelton. “Gov. Ayotte’s commitment to streamline the permitting process for housing is a welcome step the state can directly take to reduce regulatory burdens related to new residential construction.”
The BIA looks forward to reviewing the governor’s proposed budget in full detail and will work with legislators to make sure New Hampshire’s business climate remains competitive, he said.
The Conservation Law Foundation liked the landfill moratorium announced by Ayotte during her budget address.
“Gov. Ayotte’s landfill moratorium is a much-needed step toward protecting New Hampshire’s communities and environment. For too long, our state has been burdened with out-of-state waste, leading to harmful pollution,” said Tom Irwin, CLF Vice President for New Hampshire. “While this is a significant first step, more work remains. It’s essential that we prioritize waste reduction and implement innovative solutions to ensure that waste disposal is only a last resort.”
The organization notes the state is home to six large landfills including two private mega-landfills: Casella’s landfill in Bethlehem, and Waste Management, Inc.’s landfill in Rochester.
About half of the waste buried in New Hampshire landfills comes from out of state.
Americans For Prosperity-NH Deputy State Director Sarah Scott noted the state pioneered education freedom accounts.
“It’s high time we made EFAs available to everystudent in the Granite State and joined other states in embracing universal school choice. AFP-NH and its activists are thrilled to hear Governor Ayotte commit to making this transformative vision a reality.”