The Department of Health and Human Services is asking for $321 million more to cover their programs for the next two years.
At Tuesday’s budget hearings in Concord, DHHS Commissioner Nick Toumpas told lawmakers that his agency has seen a 15% jump in caseloads since 2009, and continues to feel the impact of a slowed economy.
And he warned that not providing services won’t save the state any money in the long-run.
“There is a cost of not providing some of the services because the costs do shift…they shift elsewhere.”
He says other state agencies and counties would feel the impact of any cuts.
On Monday, Governor-Elect Maggie Hassan warned agency heads that the new budget won’t be able to meet all their demands.
