State budget

The budget proposals of the Governor and Legislature can be seen as blueprints that articulate the architect's vision and values. They answer questions like: What should the house look like? Should we emphasize family space, or personal spaces? Do we build a house for the family as it exists today, or anticipate what its needs will be five, 10 or more years down the line?

The architect's blueprint is soon translated into the contractor's estimate, and as each cost is scrutinized -- like the Legislature examines the state's budget -- the values become more sharply defined. Should we invest in high-quality building material, or gamble on early repair and replacement costs? Should we empty our savings account on this project, or leave a "rainy day" fund in the bank?

As our elected leaders hammer together the state's budget, the Children's Alliance of NH urges them to be responsible builders.

We urge them to think about the needs of the whole family, including those whose voices are smaller and quieter. We urge them to invest in programs that prevent problems. We urge them to value the many essential human services state government provides and that, like a home's wiring and plumbing, we tend not to appreciate until we need them. We urge them to start building now for what New Hampshire will look like one generation from now.

Therefore, we believe the state should follow three principles in creating and managing its budget:

1. The state budget must fund the basic needs of New Hampshire's most vulnerable children and families.
2. Basic needs must be funded through reliable revenue sources.
3. Footnotes calling for broad and undefined cuts beyond those contained in budget line items should be rejected.

June 24, 2005
State budget agreement reached by NH House and Senate is a mixed bag: Will Gov. Lynch veto?

June 8, 2005
Families USA report says U.S. health care system shifts costs of uninsured onto working families and businesses.

June 8, 2005
Children's Alliance says NH Senate budget will shift health care costs onto working families.

May 9, 2005
UNH Survey Center 's Granite State Poll says 60% of public supports raising cigarette tax to close the state budget gap.

April 20, 2005
House passes budget.

April 8, 2005
Children's Alliance endorses raising the state tobacco tax. Read Issue Brief: "Healthier state, healthier budget."

February 15, 2005
Gov. John Lynch releases his proposed 2006-07 state budget.

December 24, 2004
Concord Monitor: Governor-elect John Lynch says he won't rule out program cuts or layoffs in dealing with a projected $300-million state deficit.

December 9, 2004
Concord Monitor: Former Revenue Commissioner says NH faces a $300-million budget gap, blames Gov. Craig Benson's policies.

July 30, 2004
Gov. Benson orders cuts of 8- and 10-percent in state agency budget requests for 2006-07.

June 3, 2004
NH Center for Public Policy Studies projects a $306-million state budget deficit (PDF) by June, 2007 if no spending cuts or new taxes are enacted.

May, 2004
A NH CARES (NH Citizens Advocating for Responsible and Essential Services) analysis says NH's budget deficit may force more than $200 million in human services budget cuts in the next biennium.

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Examine New Hampshire's current operating budget, for fiscal years 2004-05.

Reports from New Hampshire's Consensus Revenue Estimating Panel.