STATE LAWMAKERS MET WITH THE GOVERNOR LAST WEEK TO FIND WAYS TO CUT THE STATE'S PROJECTED 50 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.
BUT THE STATE GOVERNMENT ISN'T ALONE IN FACING A FINANCIAL SQUEEZE.
ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE THREATENING DOUBLE DIGIT TAX INCREASES TO STEM THE TIDE OF THEIR RED INK.
AND AS NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC RADIO'S MARK BEVIS REPORTS, MOST OF THOSE DEFICITS COME FROM RUNNING THE COUNTY NURSING HOMES.
IN MERRIMACK COUNTY, COMMISSIONERS ARE PLANNING A 17% PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
SOME OF THAT INCREASE IS DUE TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
BUT MUCH OF IT COMES FROM AN EXPECTED LACK OF FUNDS FROM THE STATE TO HELP COVER MEDICAID COSTS AT THE COUNTY NURSING HOMES...
BECAUSE OF THAT LACK OF STATE SUPPORT, MERRIMACK COUNTY NOW FACES A DROP IN ITS BOND RATING.
BORROWING MONEY HAS NOW BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE.
MERRIMACK IS NOT ALONE.
PROPERTY OWNERS ACROS THE STATE ARE FACING COUNTY TAX INCREASES.
CHRISTOPHER BOOTHBY IS A BELKNAP COUNTY COMMISSIONER…AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE NH ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.
HE SAYS WHAT'S DRIVING THE INCREASE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE STATE SHOULD PAY COUNTIES TO RUN THE NURSING HOMES….AND WHAT IT DOES PAY.
TAPE:
CHRISTOPHER BOOTHBY IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.
HE'S ALSO A COMMISSIONER FOR BELKNAP COUNTY.
FOR NHPR NEWS, THIS IS MARK BEVIS IN CONCORD.
