Latest news with #GraniteStaters
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The lack of housing in New Hampshire is hurting families. Are state senators listening?
Housing is in short supply throughout New Hampshire. (Photo by Dana Wormald/New Hampshire Bulletin) In the most recent UNH Granite State Poll, New Hampshire residents said housing is their top concern. More than three times as many people cited housing compared to the next most important issue, taxes. Yes, we are experiencing a statewide crisis of housing affordability. This crisis constrains economic growth and community vitality. Yet the New Hampshire Senate is poised to vote on a state budget that turns its back on housing, cutting funding for important programs that help our cities and towns meet their housing challenges and missing opportunities to help developers build housing that Granite Staters can afford. The Housing Champions program was created by the Legislature in 2023 with a $5 million appropriation to provide grants to cities and towns to help them voluntarily change their zoning ordinances to be more 'housing friendly.' Communities that made these changes were recognized as 'Housing Champions' and are eligible for additional funding, such as grants for infrastructure improvements. So far, 18 communities have achieved this distinction, and others are poised to follow. Despite this celebrated success, the Senate has proposed zeroing out this program. This shortsighted decision takes away the principal incentive ('carrots, not sticks') for our cities and towns to make important zoning changes. Earlier this year, the Senate passed Senate Bill 81 (then tabled it to add it to the budget) increasing the annual allocation to the state's affordable housing trust fund from $5 million to $10 million and making an additional appropriation of $25 million to the trust fund. The annual increase acknowledges the rising cost of building homes — the same money just doesn't go as far as it once did. The additional one-time appropriation acknowledges the housing deficit we're in — we need to build many thousands more homes just to meet current demand and help our economy grow. Even with good zoning, the developments that house our workforce require significant financial resources. Witness the several developments that have stalled recently in Concord because of higher costs. Senators gave themselves the opportunity to add SB 81 to the budget and then ignored it. Finally, the Senate has proposed reducing funding to the Housing Appeals Board, an innovative approach to addressing appeals of local planning and zoning decisions. The Legislature created the fast-track of the Housing Appeals Board in 2020 recognizing the delays that housing developments faced when local decisions were appealed to court. Time is money, and delays add to development costs. The Housing Appeals Board has been nationally recognized as a light-touch, small-government approach, and it has shown to be an effective and efficient means of hearing appeals. In the midst of a housing crisis, it is nonsensical to pull back on a proven way to speed up final decisions on development proposals. Our current lack of sufficient housing is a drag on economic growth and is hurting New Hampshire's families. It's time for the Senate to put its money — our money — where its mouth is: fund these vital housing programs and help move the Granite State out of its current housing crisis and toward a better, brighter future.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Retirement benefit restoration clears Senate budget panel
Senate budget writers approved restoring pension benefits that 1,550 first responders lost to a 2011 retirement reform law with just a six-month delay before they all would kick in. In a surprise move Monday, the Senate Finance Committee endorsed the proposal from Sen. Tim Lang, R-Sanbornton, over the opposition of both Senate President Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, and Senate Majority Leader Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead. Committee Chairman James Gray, R-Rochester, had proposed significantly reducing the budget impact by phasing in the restoration over four years. The reduction in pension benefits for newer, so-called Group II employees was made as part of a retirement overhaul bill in 2011. The pension restoration was a key campaign promise that helped Gov. Kelly Ayotte win the endorsement of several public-sector unions including the State Employees Association. Ayotte's state budget plan proposed restoring the pension cuts right away and paying for them by legalizing slot machine gambling at the state's 14 charity casinos. The House budget bill includes those pension enhancements that cost $26.5 million a year but didn't earmark any of the expanded gambling money to pay for them. In his amendment, Lang said the six-month delay would save the state about $13 million, and during the first year of the budget this would allow the Rainy Day Fund to grow to more than $250 million. Starting in 2027, Lang's proposal would have the state cover the 'normal costs' for the change which otherwise would be passed on in higher local property taxes, Lang said. 'This makes sure there are no downshifting of costs to the political subdivisions,' Lang said. Gray said that provision could cost $6.6 million annually. Pushback Carson said these pension changes should have been presented as a separate bill subject to its own series of public hearings. She would rather wait for any significant change to the retirement system until after 2027 when a commission study will be reconvened. 'This has been a very, very difficult budget. We have had to make a number of very painful cuts,' Carson said. 'I just don't believe this is the time to bring this forward.' Birdsell said she supported Gray's slower reform plan, which included a pension benefit to younger Group II employees that she said would have helped recruitment and retention. Sen. Howard Pearl, R-Loudon, was a key swing vote for the Lang proposal, which had the backing of the two Democrats on the panel. 'I think this amendment moves us forward on Group II; it is not where we are going to end up,' said Pearl, referring to negotiations with House budget writers on a final compromise. In an op-ed last weekend, Gray said his plan was the most fiscally responsible alternative. 'I want a plan that is fair to 1,550 employees affected by the 2011 changes and helps the governor fulfill her campaign promises. I also need to protect 1.3 million Granite Staters who pay state and local taxes,' Gray wrote. 'The phased-in approach restores lost benefits to Group II, provides a recruitment and retention incentive for our local police and fire departments, protects cities and towns from higher property taxes, and saves state taxpayers $121 million.' Seifu Ragassa, a corrections officer, union executive and leader in the Group II movement, strongly opposed Gray's plan. He charged that it would not address a workforce shortage that has first responders being trained here only to go to work in neighboring states with better pension prospects. 'Senator Gray's proposed plan does nothing to address these realities,' Ragassa said in a statement. 'In fact, it would likely make things worse, leaving our state even more vulnerable and deepening the public safety crisis we already face.' +++ What's Next: The full Senate votes this Thursday on the proposed budget plan. Prospects: The state budget is the one bill that must pass by June 30 or the Legislature will have to pass a continuing resolution to prevent payless paydays or a temporary shutdown of some government operations. klandrigan@
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NH delegation slams 'reckless cuts' to AmeriCorps
Three-quarters of the state's congressional delegation attacked what they called the Trump administration's "reckless cuts" to the AmeriCorps program during a Manchester event Monday. Leaders of City Year estimated the impact to New Hampshire from lost grants was about $5 million. 'For decades, AmeriCorps members have put ideology aside to work for our communities and fill critical service gaps,' said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. 'I heard from volunteers in the Granite State today, and Trump's shameful cuts to this bipartisan program would be devastating for the Granite Staters they serve.' Along with City Year, the event attracted leaders of conservation groups that have benefited from the program. "AmeriCorps members do critical work for our communities, but the Trump administration's funding cuts and firing of AmeriCorps staff are threatening this work,' said Sen. Maggie Hassan, also D-N.H. The Trump White House has said critical audits of AmeriCorps in recent years revealed millions of dollars in improper payments. Officials called AmeriCorps a 'target-rich environment for President Trump's agenda to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse." Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., said she'll keep fighting to restore the program. 'The returns on investment are real: Every $1 that Congress invests in AmeriCorps generates more than $30 in returns to communities across New Hampshire,' Goodlander said. 'AmeriCorps changes lives for the better and its spirit of volunteerism is core to who we are as a state and as a nation." The Trump administration ended nearly $400 million in grants in AmeriCorps' roughly $1 billion budget and also fired most of its staff in April. About 32,000 lower-level workers were let go and an estimated 1,000 programs were eliminated. A Trump administration notice said the grants erased didn't fit AmeriCorps priorities. Two lawsuits have been filed over the changes, one by leaders in two dozen blue states and another by community organizations. Both alleged President Trump lacked the authority to gut the agency that was created and financed by Congress for decades. Monday's event was at the Manchester School District Welcome Center.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's approval rating in NH has declined amid Qatar jet, Ukraine conflict, says new poll
President Donald Trump's approval rating in New Hampshire has declined in the last month, as most Granite Staters disapprove of Trump's plan to accept a jet from Qatar and want the US to be more supportive of Ukraine, reveals a new poll from University of New Hampshire Survey Center. Per the poll, 55% of New Hampshire residents disapprove of Trump's handling of his job as president while 45% approve, giving him a net approval rating of -10. His approval has decreased since April, when the UNH poll found his approval at -6. His approval among NH Republicans is 93%, down since it hit a record high in April of 96%. His approval among Independents has also dropped, from 51% to 35%. Just 1% of Democrats approve. The poll, released May 29, also looked at approval of Trump's handling of the economy and foreign affairs. As the U.S. economy continues to feel the effects of Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs, 54% of Granite Staters disapprove of his handling of the economy, while 45% approve. 54% also disapprove of his handling of foreign policy. Trump announced earlier in May that he will accept the gift of a luxury jet from Qatar to be used as Air Force One and then donated to his presidential library at the end of his term in office. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, said that the act 'raises serious constitutional and ethical questions.' The poll found that 61% of New Hampshire residents agree with Shaheen and believe that it's inappropriate for Trump to receive the plane. Granite Staters also think that the U.S. is doing too little to support Ukraine in the war with Russia. Per the poll, 46% think this, up from 34% who thought that in March. 24% think that the U.S. is supporting Ukraine the right amount, and 15% think the U.S. should not be aiding Ukraine at all. While his approval might be dropping in New Hampshire, Trump's national approval rating has remained steady over the past month. An average of recent polls from the New York Times shows that his approval rating as of May 30 is 45%, with 52% disapproving of his performance. This has remained virtually unchanged over the past month since his approval bounced back after a second term low in the last week of April. Here's what some of the most current polls show about Trump's presidential job approval rating as of May 30. YouGov/Economist: Disapprove +8 (44% approve, 52% disapprove) Poll taken May 23-26 1,660 adultsDisapprove +3 (48% approve, 51% disapprove) Poll taken May 23-25 2,237 registered voters : Disapprove +14 (41% approve, 55% disapprove) Poll taken May 17-20 1,100 adults : Disapprove +10 (42% approve, 52% disapprove) Poll taken May 16-18 1,024 adults : Disapprove +10 (43% approve, 53% disapprove) Poll taken May 1-18 1,003 adults This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: President Trump approval rating in NH: Latest poll reveals decline
Boston Globe
29-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
How proposed federal SNAP cuts would harm New Hampshire
Advertisement Right now, the federal government pays for 100 percent of the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as 'food stamps' – $154 million in fiscal year 2024, according to the Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up People with low income who are eligible get a benefits card, and they can use money loaded onto the card toward the cost of groceries each month. The bill would require states to pay 5 percent to 25 percent of those benefits, and states that made more errors, such as overpayments or underpayments, would have to pay a higher percentage. Advertisement In 2023, New Hampshire's error rate was 12.53, according to the But Laura Milliken, executive director at New Hampshire Hunger Solutions, said it's very unlikely New Hampshire would be able to come up with that kind of money. 'There's no question that there would be cuts,' she said. Milliken's organization estimates that tens of thousands of Granite Staters would lose access to SNAP if the federal proposal is approved. The federal spending bill would also require states to pay 75 percent of the administrative costs of SNAP, up from 50 percent. In 2023, the overall cost of administering SNAP in New Hampshire was $22 million, according to the 'It's just so disturbing at a time when the cost of living is squeezing us all,' Milliken said of the proposed federal cuts. 'SNAP has been our country's first line of defense against hunger for 60 years. We should be strengthening those programs, not taking them away.' This article first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you'd like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, Amanda Gokee can be reached at
