Granite State Taxpayers (GST) commends the New Hampshire Legislature for working toward a budget that doesn’t raise taxes or fees, realistically projects revenues, maintains services and holds spending increases to a reasonable level.
The Governor’s budget proposal increased spending by over $1 billion (10%) above the prior budget and included $80 million in casino licensing fees at a point when casinos had not yet been approved by the legislature. “We applaud the New Hampshire House for rejecting both casino gambling and the increase in the size of government that would come with gambling”, said Jim Adams, Chairman of the Granite State Taxpayers Board of Directors.
The budget proposals from the Governor and the House included added revenue either from gambling, taxes, fees, or combinations thereof. Tax increases of $.12 per gallon on gasoline and $.20 per package of cigarettes were passed in the House. In a press conference on March 5, 2013, Granite State Taxpayers argued that a gasoline tax increase, then proposed at $.18 per gallon, would hurt New Hampshire families at a time when Federal government payroll tax increases had already reduced their take home pay by 2% beginning in 2013.
In contrast, the New Hampshire Senate has crafted a fiscally responsible budget that funds education and critical services and doesn’t raise taxes or fees. The Senate budget spends $10.7 billion over the biennium, a three-percent annual increase from the budget for the last biennium. The Senate budget spends $400 million less than the Governor’s budget and $300 million less than the House’s budget. It removes the $.12 gas tax increase, the $.20 tobacco tax increase and tax increases on salt-water fishing and marriage licenses passed by the House.
The Senate budget increases spending for University and Community College Systems, funds the growth of Charter Schools and preserves the Educational Tax Credit. Granite State Taxpayers opposes Governor Hassan’s effort to repeal that program. In addition, the Senate budget will increase HHS funding by $300 million compared to the budget for the last biennium.
“Granite State Taxpayers protects the rights of New Hampshire taxpayers by advocating for realistic, balanced budgets without tax increases, for reducing government spending, and for more efficient government services,” said Jim Adams, Chairman of the Granite State Taxpayers Board of Directors. “We applaud the Senate’s efforts to avoid tax and fee increases and maintain support for education and social services while holding spending increases to a reasonable level. The House should pass the New Hampshire Senate budget and the Governor should sign it.”