Editor’s Note: At 6:13 p.m. Gov. Ayotte’s office issued the following statement.
“Governor Kelly Ayotte released the following statement after reaching an agreement to deliver a budget for all of New Hampshire:
“I am pleased we were able to reach a compromise that delivers a fiscally responsible and balanced budget for all of New Hampshire. We have protected our most vulnerable, created an even brighter future for our children, and stood up for those who have made our state the safest in the nation.”
InDepthNH.org’s story about the Governor and Executive Council meeting was posted online before Gov. Ayotte released the statement.
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – Underscoring the need for first responders in the state to stay on with their job and the need for full funding of the Group II retirement plan in the next two-year budget, Gov. Kelly Ayotte and Safety Commissioner Robert Quinn told Executive Councilors about Tuesday’s “tough day,” at its meeting Wednesday and the consequences that could imperil the state’s ranking as among the nation’s safest.
Quinn told the council that in one day in New Hampshire, Tuesday, first responders were dealing with a Silver Alert for a missing senior citizen with dementia in the western part of the state, two suspicious death investigations in Keene and Pittsfield and then, as if it could not get any more busy on a 103-degree day, police responded to shots fired on Hampton beach in which three were injured.
Imagine, Ayotte said, what it would be like in the state if there were fewer first responders.
“The bottom line is if you don’t have the police officers to answer the call…and people not getting a professional response,” Quinn said. Public safety, he said, is 24/7 operation and when you have open shifts and no one to respond, the state is at risk.
On Thursday, the House and Senate will return to the State House to vote on a $15.7 billion, two-year budget that does not include full funding for the 1,500 in the Group II retirement plan who were promised a better set of benefits.
Restoring that funding has been seen as a critical retention and recruitment tool for the state for firefighters, police, and corrections officers who were hired in that time period and Ayotte has sought $27 million a year for the next 10 years as a fix.
The House and Senate Committee of Conference agreed to $15 million a year for Group II as part of the budget which will go to an up or down vote Thursday.
Ayotte secured unanimous authorization from the council to ask for an immediate legislative special session only to work out a state budget for the next two years if it is needed.
The chambers could also entertain the idea of having a continuing resolution to run state government for the next three months at the existing budget level until some sort of an agreement can be worked out, if it comes to that.
The special session could be held this Friday if the House and Senate do not pass a budget on Thursday.
If it is not needed it will be rescinded, Ayotte said.
“I am working very hard to get this resolved in an appropriate way,” Ayotte, a Republican, told the council, during a four-hour meeting which approved her late item request.
Normally, the governor meets with the press after the council meeting but that had to be pushed off as staff said she was working on the budget issues in the last hours.
Ayotte said she did not want the government to shut down July 1 and this “important proclamation” ensures that the state runs under the current budget and that there is no government shutdown.
The Republican, with majority of Republicans in the House and Senate, has indicated that she cannot support the current proposal worked out between a committee of conference but does not include her full funding for the Group II retirement and includes a cut of more than $10 million to Manchester schools, among other issues.
Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill, D-Lebanon, said she would vote for the request “with the hope it will not be needed” and that the legislature “will do its job.”
DEMOCRATS BALK AT 90 PERCENT RUMOR
Democrats who are in the minority in the House, Senate and the Executive Council issued a statement entitled “Total GOP Control, Total Budget Collapse,” and said if the whole deal goes down it is the Republicans’ fault.
“Today, as Republicans continue to flounder in their attempts to agree on a State Budget palatable to the Governor, new rumors are circulating around the State House about a potential Continuing Resolution that would fund government operations at just 90 percent of current levels. In response, House Democratic Leader Rep. Alexis Simpson, D-Exeter, issued the following statement:
“Let’s be real: Republicans had one job this year—pass a budget—and they blew it. They control every branch of state government and still managed to run it straight into a wall. That’s not leadership, that’s chaos.
“Now their backup plan? Arbitrarily gut $700 million from the state budget with a Continuing Resolution funded at 90 percent and hope no one notices. That means seniors in nursing homes losing care and housing. Hospitals not getting reimbursed. Disability services vanishing. First responders and state employees left unpaid. This isn’t belt-tightening, it’s ripping apart the engine while the car’s still moving.
“Threatening to shut down the government or slash funding this severely through a Continuing Resolution isn’t just reckless, it’s a dereliction of duty. Granite Staters deserve stability and solutions, not scorched-earth politics.”
The current budget for the state ends at midnight on June 30.
“While Republicans bicker and posture on the radio and social media, Democrats are ready to govern but have been blocked out of the process. We will vote against any Continuing Resolution that does not fund essential services and will continue to fight for a budget that protects our constituents and reflects the values of this state. Enough with the games. It’s time to do your job.”
At current count, improved for the Democrats after a special election win, there are 218 Republicans in the House, 178 Democrats, two independents and two vacancies.
In the Senate there are 16 Republicans and eight Democrats.
The budget needs to pass by a majority vote in each chamber.
Ayotte wrote in a press statement Tuesday that “Doing the people’s work means putting together a responsible, balanced budget that keeps our promises to protect services for our most vulnerable citizens, ensure our children receive a best-in-class education, and take care of the men and women who have made our state the safest in the nation. That is why we should have a continuing resolution of no more than 90 days.
“We must ensure certainty for our citizens and continuity for our tourism industry during this critical revenue period, and we must continue to work together through the summer to deliver for all of New Hampshire,” Ayotte wrote.
NOMINATIONS/CONFIRMATIONS
Though she announced her pick last week, the governor formally nominated Caitlin Davis, director of the New Hampshire Department of Education and a veteran of the department for 15 years to be the state’s next Education Commissioner.
A public hearing on her nomination will be held but has not yet been scheduled.
As required by law, Ayotte first presented her nominee to the State Board of Education last Thursday.
“Caitlin will ensure New Hampshire schools remain innovative and forward-thinking, support our fantastic teachers and public schools, and strive for the highest standards of academic achievement. Caitlin’s collaborative, data-driven approach will help us continue delivering a best-in-class education for all of New Hampshire’s students,” Ayotte said in a prepared statement.
Davis oversaw the successful implementation of a new, statewide student information system, and she was instrumental in the adoption of iPlatform, an online data dashboard that highlights student assessment performance, enrollment, attendance and more.
She will replace Frank Edelblut who decided to resign at the end of this term.
“I am honored to be nominated for this role and look forward to ensuring the department is well-run, transparent, and responsive to the needs of schools and students,” said Caitlin Davis. “New Hampshire is stronger when it has a collaborative educational landscape, high-quality public schools, diverse pathways, and commitment to local control – knowing that we’re better when working together.
Throughout her 15-year career with the Department, Davis prioritized partnerships with public schools across the state, the governor said, “ensuring that educators and district leaders are heard, supported, and empowered.” “She maintains a deep respect for the critical role of public schools in serving the majority of New Hampshire students, while also playing a key role in administering the state’s growing educational pathways. Her leadership reflects a belief that public education and innovation are not in conflict but can and must work together to meet the unique needs of students.”
The council confirmed the nominations of Robert M. Buxton of Bedford to another term as director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Joseph W. Mollica of Concord to be commissioner of the state Liquor Commission through July 2029.
The governor also nominated Robert Stephen of Manchester, brother of Executive Councilor John Stephen, to the state Judicial Council. If confirmed he will replace Daniel E. Will of Loudon.
2025 YEAR OF STATE PARKS
Ayotte proclaimed 2025 “The Year of NH State Parks” Wednesday as part of a year-long 90th anniversary celebration.
There are 94 parks across the state and the governor urged people to explore them and enjoy the “premier attractions” that help make the Granite State what it is today.
She was accompanied by a person dressed as “Chumley,” a chipmunk to help with the proclamation.
Founded as the Forest and Recreation Commission in 1935 and now a division within the N.H. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, N.H. State Parks have campgrounds, hiking parks, waysides, inland and ocean beaches, and more – that provide outdoor recreation activities in all four seasons.
“Congratulations to N.H. State Parks on 90 wonderful years of preserving what makes our state the most beautiful in the nation!”
In recent years, visitation at N.H. State Parks has increased, an indicator of growing interest in the state’s outdoor recreation sector, a $2.7 billion industry that directly employs 28,000 workers statewide and provides $25 in tax revenue for every dollar invested.
“At N.H. State Parks, we like to say that ‘We’re in the memory-making business,’” said N.H. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Commissioner Sarah L. Stewart. “Our 90th anniversary is a tremendous opportunity for people to get out and revisit the parks they know but also to explore new gems and create new memories.”
As part of its 90th anniversary celebration, N.H. State Parks has created an interactive scavenger hunt that invites visitors to go on missions, complete tasks, answer trivia questions and upload photos. Prizes are based on the number of tasks completed and range from stickers, day-use passes and State Parks-branded items to a grand prize of camping gear from Dover, N.H.-based NEMO Equipment.
For more information about N.H. State Parks and to download the scavenger hunt app, visit at nhstateparks.org.
$2.7B CONTRACT FOR MEDICAID APPROVED
The council approved what is by far the largest contract in the state through August 31, 2029, with AmeriHealth Caritas New Hampshire of Philadelphia doing business as WellSense Health Plan of Manchester and Granite Healthy Plan Inc. of Bedford to provide health care services for Medicaid-eligible participants through the managed care program by increasing the price limitation by $1.5 billion. The contract is paid for through 69.15 percent federal funds, the rest in other funds and 7.42 percent general state funds.
DRAFTING A PUBLIC RESPONSE TO SUNAPEE PLAN
Vail Resorts is expecting a decision on its operating plan for the next year from the state on June 30. The state owns the ski area and has a long-term contract to operate it with Vail.
Stewart said more than 200 people attended a recent hearing where concern was raised about Vail’s plans for spraying gray water.
She said she is working to make public her decision that will go out on Friday.
CONTRACT FOR TOURISM WITH CANADIAN FIRM/GYK ANTLER APPROVED
The council approved a $400,000 contract with Global Reach Marketing of Toronto to help facilitate tourism in the 603.
“We are a very big tourism state,” said Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the state Department of Business and Economic Affairs.
Canadian visitors have been an important part of the tourism economy, but issues related to President Donald Trump’s tariffs and calling on it to become the 51st state have had a negative impact seen already on travel.
Caswell said the state has a lot of very small main street businesses that rely on tourism and that the state takes on the role of promotion for them, something “they are not able to do for themselves.”
He said the state is in a highly competitive market for those tourism dollars and bordered by Vermont and Maine who are even more reliant on tourism.
He said the benefit with this firm is that they are on the ground in Canada.
The council also approved the renewal of a contract with GYK Antler of Manchester through June 30, 2027.
Caswell said for every dollar invested through marketing the state is seeing a return of more than $15.
BARRIERS ON I-95 TO BE REBID
Barriers between north and south bound lanes on Interstate 95 on the Seacoast have been sought to help reduce the number of accidents, but Executive Councilor Janet Stevens, R-Rye, called it a “devastating blow” to find that the bids came in too high.
She said “people are dying on I-95.”
Department of Transportation Commissioner William Cass said he shared her concern and said there was an “extreme overbid” when it went out and it will be rebid in early July.
CONTRACT PULLED
After a June 4 meeting in which the council tabled a proposed contract to provide monitoring for healthcare professionals with Ulliance of Troy, Michigan, the governor said she withdrew the contract after speaking with the Attorney General about concerns that the company did not have existing infrastructure in the state as is required by law.
The $3.5 million contract with the for-profit company to ensure providers are “clean” of substance misuse was the low bidder of three. The existing provider offered a bid of $4.1 million.
Councilor Liot Hill said she received a lot of communication from constituents, many of whom support the existing NH Professionals Health Program of Concord contract.
With a shortage of healthcare workers in the state, Liot Hill said we cannot afford to have anyone who is able to work not work.
The council authorized an amendment to the existing contract through the end of the year.
PUBLIC DEFENDER CONTRACT QUESTIONED
Executive Councilor John Stephen, R-Manchester, said a $61 million contract with the NH Public Defender for indigent defense is “a lot of money,” and asked about the case load for 125 public defenders across the state.
He was told there is an increased number of individuals who need public defenders that are allowed by law.
He asked if there is anything that is done other than taking a person’s word on a form about assets and income that they are indigent and was told they will look into it within the state Judicial Council.
$11M CORRECTIONS OVERTIME QUESTIONED
Acting Corrections Commissioner John Scippa said an almost $11 million request for overtime is really a culmination of a number of different variables. He noted there is a 42 percent vacancy rate which means mandatory overtime to provide minimum staffing.
He noted six or seven different labor groups within DOC each with their own collective bargaining agreements.
1776 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ON DISPLAY AT STATE HOUSE
The public can now view the 1776 and 1823 copies of the Declaration of Independence until July 9 in the State House visitors’ center, but they cannot take photographs of them.
Secretary of State David Scanlan and State Archivist Ashley Miller announced that New Hampshire’s 1776 Dunlap Broadside, the first official printing of the Declaration of Independence, and the 1823 William J. Stone Engraving, the most famous facsimile of the Declaration, will be on display through Independence Day, July 4th.
One of the copies arrived in New Hampshire on July 16, 1776, where it was read aloud to citizens and reprinted in newspapers. The broadside, which was shared with state leaders to inform them of the bold step Congress had taken, likely passed through the hands of Meshech Weare, New Hampshire’s president at the time.
The State of New Hampshire, through the State Archives, shares custody of the Dunlap Broadside with the American Independence Museum in Exeter, which was founded by the New Hampshire Society of the Cincinnati. Taking photos of the Dunlap Broadside and 1823 Stone Engraving are strictly prohibited.