Daniels: The Legislature Approved a Responsible, Balanced Budget

By Gary Daniels

I would first like to thank my constituents in Senate District 11. I have enjoyed working for you in Concord this session and appreciate the opportunity to serve you.

I am very proud of the many accomplishments from this session, including passage of our state’s Capital Budget. The Capital Budget improves upon the state’s roads and bridges and also provides specific funding for projects such as the Milford District Court.

The Legislature also passed a responsible, balanced budget that meets the needs of NH’s citizens and protects taxpayers by funding social services; including, Meals on Wheels, Developmental Disability Services and many other critical services. In the midst of an opioid crisis, it increased statewide drug and alcohol funding by 75 percent. Education Aid to cities and towns increased and the cap on Adequate Education Grants would have been removed. Support for higher education increased, The Community College System would be able to freeze tuition for another two years and the University System would have received an 8 percent increase.

This budget also included a modest reduction in business taxes for businesses that employ 95% of our private sector workforce. NH ranks 48th in business taxes, and will soon have the highest in New England if we do not act now. The budget phased in responsible reductions to the business profits tax and the business enterprise tax over five years, and paid for them.

Unfortunately, the governor vetoed the budget and the state of New Hampshire is temporarily operating on last year’s budget. For now, the list of accomplishments in this budget will not happen; I look forward to getting back to work on the budget so we can start moving forward with these important services.

Gary Daniels is the State Senator for District 11 which includes the towns of Amherst, Merrimack, Milford, and Wilton. He is also the chairman of the Capital Budget Committee, a member of the Judiciary and Transportation Committee.