Governor Maggie Hassan says strong fiscal management by state leaders and an improving economy have boosted the state's budget surplus to $76 million for fiscal year 2013.
That figure is $19 million more than the $57 million lawmakers had anticipated.
Hassan also said Friday that a monthly forecast shows the state currently running almost $27 million ahead for the 2014 fiscal year.
The state has a $10.7 billion budget for the current, two-year cycle.
Hassan says the state should use the surplus to begin to refill its rainy day fund and ease cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services. The budget required DHHS to cut $7 million.
