Governor-elect Chris Sununu has tapped Charlie Arlinghaus, a fiscal conservative and critic of outgoing Gov. Maggie Hassan's spending habits, to lead his budget efforts through the transition.
Arlinghaus is president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, a Concord think tank that promotes free market ideas. State agencies are already working on budget proposals, even though the next governor hasn't taken office. Sununu, a Republican, will be inaugurated in January and expected to present a two-year state budget proposal by mid-February.
Arlinghaus said he'll help lead budget efforts between now and the inauguration but doesn't plan to work full-time in Sununu's administration.
Arlinghaus has used a regular Union Leader column to criticize Hassan, a Democrat, for proposals to increase taxes and fees and for vetoing last year's budget.
