Politics & Government
Packard: A Bipartisan Budget That Puts People First
Speaker: This bipartisan budget includes something for everyone and promotes the well-being of our state allowing us to grow and prosper.
A Bipartisan Budget that Puts People First
This has been an historic session year for the New Hampshire House of Representatives. In this almost evenly divided House, we came together and passed our version of the budget on a bipartisan voice vote in April. In June, the House concurred with the Senate on the final budget package on a bipartisan vote – a budget package that has been nicknamed the “miracle budget.”
This budget package includes something for everyone. It uses realistic revenue estimates and appropriates approximately $15.2 billion over the biennium, which includes $6.3 billion from General and Education Trust Funds.
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We are here to help our communities, and this budget satisfies them by lowering their property tax burden, sending a record $244.6 million in meals and rooms distribution to cities and towns, providing $40 million for municipal clean water projects, and an additional $22 million for municipal bridge aid, and fully funds the Highway and Bridge Betterment Program at $84.2 million over this biennium.
We put families and kids first and expanded the Education Freedom Accounts by opening up eligibility requirements – giving even more families an opportunity to explore alternative educational paths. We dedicated funds to help tackle the state’s mental health and substance abuse crisis, support family resource infrastructure, and affordable housing.
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This package promotes the health and well-being of our state, extending the Granite Advantage Health Care Program, and it ensures access to quality health care services including community mental health centers, Choices for Independent Living, long-term care services, and nursing homes.
By controlling government spending over the last few years, we have managed to fund our most pressing needs without adding new fees. By doing this, we have the lowest unemployment rate, one of the best economies and NH is one of the safest places in which to live in the nation. With this budget, NH will continue to prosper.
Representative Sherman Packard, Speaker of the House, Rockingham - District 16
