Governor Craig Benson's biennial budget message was upbeat and mostly positive.
But Democrats say parts of the governor's budget are "irresponsible."
NHPR's David Darman has more.
Governor Benson promises to balance the budget on his watch.
And he says he will rework school aid to target money to communities that need it most.
Benson says the state can achieve this, while also lowering the unpopular tax that funds much of primary and secondary education.
coupled with this targeted aid will also find significant decreases in the statewide property tax. 14 percent this biennium alone. And in the next five years we?ll reduce the statewide property tax by almost 50 percent saving nh taxpayers almost a billion dollars cumulatively, over the next five years.
Benson didn?t say where the billion dollars in savings would come from.
In most communities, any reduction in the statewide property tax would likely be made up by local governments.
But Democrats in the Senate and House say the governor?s budget makes cuts of up to 30% for higher education, including technical colleges.
Senator Lou D?Allesandro, Ways and Means Chairman, says just a quick look at the numbers shows reduced state spending for UNH in Durham.
18 09 The Authorized was 44 million in 03. when it becomes 41 million in 04, and 43 in 05 guess what, that?s a reduction. Plus you got a cost of living increase that?s in there. So the dollar value has actually shrunk. That?s a problem. It?s a problem if you?re sending your kid to the university of nh and all of sudden you see a tuition increase. 18 36
Democratic lawmakers also criticized Benson for proposing cuts in the state?s share of Medicaid payments.
The governor also wants to cut dozens of jobs from Health and Human Services.
Peter Burling, House Democratic Leader, says those cuts will hurt organizations that are already stretched to the limit in serving the elderly, mentally ill, and others.
04 129 five percent cut for the service providers in our hhs universe, is a huge number. It is an immense consequence, and its devastating to those people who provide basic services in all our local communities. 04 14
But Democrats were not entirely displeased with the governor?s budget.
Several lawmakers applauded the governor for creating a program to attract more people to the nursing profession, for example.
But outside of the partisan world of Democrats and Republicans, conservationists found a piece of the budget disappointing.
Charlie Niebling of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests was a key architect of the state?s Land and Community Heritage Program, or L-CHIP.
He?s concerned that the governor cut the program from 12 million dollars to 8 million dollars.
10 41 it just seems that to do all the good things the governor talked about this morning, some programs, like l chip are taking it on the chin. And we?re disappointed. 10 48
Republican legislative leaders say LCHIP and the university system have to share the pain of budget cuts.
They say that?s because the weak economy has forced the governor to trim spending where necessary.
Neal Kurk, House Finance Committee Chairman, says Governor Benson has avoided large layoffs, leaving many open jobs unfilled.
22 205 now that?s not a layoff. That?s not a person who?s currently an employee getting a pink slip. The governor did say very clearly though, that he?s not treating our state workforce as other governors have?. 22 224
Governor Benson proposes to close the Women?s Prison in Goffstown.
If the prison closes, 88 employees will lose their jobs.
Many lawmakers got their first look at the budget in a thin executive summary that the governor?s staff gave out.
The governor promises to have full 1,000 page copies, or CD?s, available by next Tuesday.
That?s when the House Finance Committee plans to begin examining the budget, one line at a time.
