By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – The state’s Executive Council learned that a tax amnesty program expected to generate about $5 million already has collected almost $46 million in money owed to the state with six weeks to go before it ends.
Lindsey Stepp, commissioner for the Department of Revenue Administration, received applause from Gov. Kelly Ayotte and the council when Executive Councilor Janet Stevens, R-Rye, offered her congratulations and outlined the progress to date at the council’s meeting Wednesday.
Stepp said it was a team approach in her department and there are still collections coming in under the amnesty program, which ends Feb. 15.
The amnesty plan came as part of the Senate’s budget plan, which was adopted last June for the next two years. During those negotiations in May, Sen. Tim Lang, R-Sanbornton, said the state has had amnesty plans in the past that brought in as much as $19 million in the first year of the budget cycle.
This time around, he said he thought it was more likely that such a program could bring $5 million in the first year in 2026. “We do this every 10 to 15 years, where people who owe money to the state but haven’t paid it,” Lang said. “We give them amnesty on the penalty and the interest to encourage them to come pay.”
The amnesty initiative follows elimination of the state’s Interest and Dividends Tax. While the repeal took effect Jan. 1, 2025, taxable periods beginning on or before Dec. 31, 2024, remain subject to audit and collection by DRA, per applicable law and rules.
The state is providing the opportunity to pay any outstanding state taxes without penalty and with 50 percent of accrued interest. The Tax Amnesty Program runs from Dec. 1, 2025, to Feb. 15, 2026.
Amnesty is available to any taxpayer who has a delinquent state tax return or has not paid a tax that was due on or before June 30, 2025. This applies to anyone with an outstanding tax notice, including those who are currently in the appeal process.
To take advantage of the Tax Amnesty Program, taxpayers must file any required outstanding tax returns and pay all unpaid taxes and 50 percent of applicable interest by Feb. 15, 2026.
An online interest calculator is available on the DRA website at revenue.nh.gov/tax-amnesty-program.
COUNCIL APPROVES MORE THAN $15M TO COMPLETE PURCHASE OF GRANITE PLACE FROM DEVELOPER STEVE DUPREY
The Executive Council finalized a planned purchase of the entire Granite Place complex off Rumford Street in Concord for state offices. This last tranche of money is to pay for the North Building and 11.6 acres of land while the state already purchased the South Building using federal American Rescue Plan Act funding.
The seller is Steve Duprey, a developer who also has been involved in the state Republican party. The state has had a lease with an option to buy the building.
Charlie Arlinghaus, commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services, said the offices of the courts have had a lease in the North Building. In the current budget, the legislature authorized the purchase of the second building. There is work that needs to be done by the landlord.
There will be additional space in the North Building. The South Building is being used as a temporary Legislative Office Building now as the LOB is being renovated. There is about 10,000 additional square feet that could be occupied by other state offices, Arlinghaus said.
The reconstruction of the LOB is expected to be complete in April or May, he said, and the state likely will take full possession of the building in the spring.
LOZEAU APPOINTED TO DIRECT STATE’S NEW RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM
Ayotte announced the appointment of Donnalee Lozeau, former Nashua Mayor, state Representative and CEO of the state’s largest Community Action Program, as director of the Governor’s Office of New Opportunities & Rural Transformational Health (GO-NORTH), which will administer New Hampshire’s Rural Health Transformation Program.
At the end of 2025, the state learned it will receive more than $200 million to provide grants for rural health initiatives.
“Donnalee Lozeau is a life-long public servant and a fierce advocate for our most vulnerable citizens,” Ayotte said. “I’m grateful she has agreed to take on this role and help expand access to affordable, high-quality health care in our rural communities through GO-NORTH. We’re ready to hit the ground running to deliver a healthier future for all of New Hampshire.”
New Hampshire was awarded over $204 million in federal funding for 2026 to invest in health care in rural communities across the state, the largest award among New England states.
“It is an honor to be appointed by the governor to lead this important initiative,” Lozeau said. “I look forward to working with Gov. Ayotte, the Executive Council, the Department of Health and Human Services, and health care providers to improve access to health care across rural New Hampshire. Working collaboratively, I am confident that we can achieve sustainable solutions, making our entire state an even healthier place to live.”
Ayotte said there will be more briefings on timelines and schedules. Councilor Karen Liot Hill, D-Lebanon, said she supports holding a separate meeting to deal exclusively with the issue.
INDIGENT DEFENSE FUNDS APPROVED, MORE ACCOUNTABILITY REQUESTED
The Executive Council again approved more funds for indigent defense in court as is required by law, but at least one councilor said there has to be more accountability to the public.
Executive Councilor John Stephen, R-Manchester, said he wants more data on how many were denied based on the ability to pay. He was told that information would have to come from the courts.
“The taxpayers cannot keep paying for all of these without some sort of accountability,” Stephen said.
FIVE FARMS GET FEDERAL FUNDS FOR EQUIPMENT
Through the federal Resilient Food System Infrastructure Program, five regional farms received grants totaling close to $300,000, including Moulton Farms in Meredith, Gilmanton’s Own Inc., Coppal House Farm in Lee, Applecrest Farm Orchards in Hampton Falls and Sherman Farm in Center Conway.
A contract for Sunnycrest Farm Inc. of Londonderry for $62,046 was withdrawn. The vote on all the other farm contracts was 4-1, with Executive Councilor David Wheeler, R-Milford, voting to oppose.
ANIMAL TOOTH ANALYSIS TO INFORM HUNTING LIMITS
A contract for $12,468.50 was approved for Matson’s Laboratory LLC of Montana to analyze the teeth of female bears, moose, fisher cats and bobcats to provide age and reproductive history of the animals to better inform decision-making on hunting limits. The contract will allow for the analysis of 1,200 bears, 50 moose, 100 fishers and 60 bobcats.
SCHOOL DRINKING WATER GRANTS APPROVED
Using the state’s drinking water and groundwater trust fund, the council approved improvements to drinking water to benefit children in school districts, including Warren Village School District, Governor Wentworth School District, Sanborn Regional School District in Kingston, and for children in Freedom, Madison and Tamworth totaling more than $226,000.
COUNCILOR STEPHEN RETURNS TO THE TABLE
After suffering a near-death cardiac emergency just after Thanksgiving, Executive Councilor John Stephen, R-Manchester, returned to the table with many warmly welcoming his return.
Stephen participated remotely at the last meeting and missed only one meeting when he was hospitalized in December.
SAFETY FUNDS TO IMPROVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE APPROVED
A contract to spend $214,597 to support law enforcement agencies in the purchasing of necessary equipment to electronically share criminal justice data was approved. It is part of the state’s goal to ensure that all law enforcement has timely access to data and was identified as a problem following the death of Sandra Marisol Fuentes Huaracha, 25, of Berlin this summer.
She was killed by her husband, who was out on $5,000 bail for allegedly raping her. While the state has done a full review of the incident and identified steps it can take to avoid a similar tragedy, the state is still awaiting a report promised by the Berlin Police Department seven months after her death and the death of her husband at his own hands.
PALACE THEATER CYBERSECURITY UPGRADE
Manchester’s Palace Theater will receive a grant from the state of $131,250 to provide funding for physical and cybersecurity enhancements and other security-related activities.
Commissioner of Safety Robert Quinn said there are grants available and councilors are eager to get more information for future grant rounds. They noted that terror attacks can happen anywhere and gathering places are high-value targets.
PRAISE FOR RETIRING COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION BILL CASS
Ayotte and members of the Executive Council accepted the resignation and praised Commissioner of Transportation Bill Cass, who is retiring after 40 years of state service, effective Feb. 27.
Ayotte said Commissioner Cass “has just done a phenomenal job,” and used “wonderful common sense” in his 40 years of work for New Hampshire.
Councilor Janet Stevens, R-Rye, said Cass worked through some of the most difficult years for Transportation and showed calm professionalism in dealing with difficulties.
“You have consistently come through time and time again,” she said. “Happy retirement.”
Councilor John Stephen said Cass has been one of the best commissioners and has been very responsive to issues. “You are unparalleled when it comes to the term ‘public servant,'” he said.
Wheeler said Cass has always given the council “one day service” and is always responsive to the needs of the state.
STATE BOYS SOCCER CHAMPIONS HONORED
Ayotte commended Nashua’s Bishop Guertin Boys Soccer Team, which won the state championship this fall.
“I know integrity is a big part of your teamwork,” said Ayotte, who has known many of the student-athletes from their childhood.
CHILD CARE FUNDING CONCERNS
Councilor Joe Kenney, R-Wakefield, said he is worried about child care issues after President Donald Trump announced a plan to change funding after fraud investigations in Minnesota.
Weaver said there has been no freezing of state funds despite what has happened in Minnesota.
Karen Hebert, director of the DHHS department of economic stability, said the matter is simply a proposed federal rule and depending on what the final rule is there may be steps taken but not currently.
“New Hampshire is not Minnesota,” Kenney said, adding that there is a lot of accountability referring to a fraud scandal in that state that led its governor to not seek re-election.
CAREER TECHNICAL TRAINING GRANT FOR STATE INMATES APPROVED
A cooperative agreement between the state Department of Education and the Department of Corrections will allow $120,000 to be spent to offer career education to over 700 inmates in Concord and Berlin. Programs are for both men and women and include those in cosmetology, manufacturing, building trades and computer technology.
HONEY GLAZED CHOCOLATE DONUTS AT THE PRISON?
Stephen said taxpayers should not be paying for honey glazed chocolate donuts when he went through the details of a contract with Calise & Sons Bakery of Lincoln, R.I., in the amount of $911,000 for baked goods and found one of the line items was donuts.
Commissioner of Administrative Services Arlinghaus said the request came from the corrections staff, not his office.