The New Hampshire House approved a budget last week that level funded Catastrophic Aid to current funding levels and level funded Building Aid. The House reduced the level of Vocational Tuition and Transportation Aid by 40% and eliminated Drop Out Assistance. The House level funded Adequacy Aid to current funding levels and extended the moratorium on new school building aid for two years. The House added a 2 % increase in employee retirement rates that would help offset the reduction of the state’s payment.
No overall state budget numbers will likely be final until June. The Senate has set June 2nd as its budget deadline.
Senate Education will hear HB 542 this week. This bill prohibits a school district from requiring that a parent send his or her child to any school or program to which the parent may be conscientiously opposed.
Other bills that are being heard in the next two weeks include:
- HB 650, authorizing a school district to call a special meeting in the event of changes in the amount of state education funding
- HB 290, relative to staffing exceptions for small schools
- SB 75, relative to clarification of part-time service in the state retirement system
- SB 37, relative to the determination of residency for certain pupils
- SB 3, making comprehensive changes to the state retirement system
- HB 575, requiring school districts to develop a facility maintenance and capital improvement program
- SB 82, extending the state board of education's authority to approve chartered public schools and relative to the funding of chartered public schools approved by a school district
- SB 90, directing the legislative oversight committee to study the consolidation of school administrative unit
- SB 172, relative to performance-based school accountability criteria
- SB 192, establishing a commission to identify strategies needed for delivering a 21st century education
- SB 67, establishing a committee to study school vouchers and school choice
- SB 196, relative to the renomination or reelection of teachers and prohibiting assessing teacher performance based solely on assessment scores
The Special Committee on Education Funding Reform will review a proposed Constitutional Amendment, CACR 14. CACR 14 will recommend whether the general court or the legislature shall have full discretion to determine the amount of state funding for education.
You may also contact any member of the Legislature at the following web address: (http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ns/whosmyleg/default.asp).
All Legislative hearings are open to the public.
Chesterfield Budget Comparison:
Governor’s Budget House Budget
Adequacy Aid change: $(373,584) $(373,584)
Building Aid Change:
Catastrophic Aid Change: $(110,736)
Total Reduction in Revenue: $(484,320) $(373,584)
Ed. Jobs Excess Funding: $51,124 $51,124
Change in Local Tax Dollars: $(433,196) $(322,460)
Change in local Tax Rate: $0.78 $0.58
Impact on $100,000 home: $78 $58
Deficit as a result of State Retirement Change: $(106,966) $(63,128)
Harrisville Budget Comparison:
Governor’s Budget House Budget
Adequacy Aid change: $43,897 $43,897
Building Aid Change:
Catastrophic Aid Change:
Total Reduction in Revenue: $43,897 $43,897
Ed. Jobs Excess Funding: $10,836 $10,836
Change in Local Tax Dollars: $54,733 $54,733
Change in local Tax Rate: $(.026) $(0.26)
Impact on $100,000 home: $(26) $(26)
Deficit as a result of State Retirement Change: $(18,219) $(10,752)
Keene Budget Comparison:
Governor’s Budget House Budget
Adequacy Aid change: $69,192 $69,192
Building Aid Change: $(1,300,000)
Catastrophic Aid Change: $(330,000)
Total Reduction in Revenue: $(1,560,808) $69,192
Ed. Jobs Excess Funding: $318,734 $318,734
Change in Local Tax Dollars: $(1,242,074) $387,962
Change in local Tax Rate: $0.65 $(0.20)
Impact on $100,000 home: $65 $(20)
Deficit as a result of State Retirement Change: $(1,035,000) $(613,000)
Marlborough Budget Comparison:
Governor’s Budget House Budget
Adequacy Aid change: $204,036 $204,036
Building Aid Change: $(209,149)
Catastrophic Aid Change: $(136,240)
Total Reduction in Revenue: $(141,353) $204,036
Ed. Jobs Excess Funding: $34,706 $34,706
Total Change in Local Tax Dollars: $(106,647) $238,742
Change in local Tax Rate: $0.51 $(1.15)
Impact on $100,000 home: $51 $(115)
Deficit as a result of State Retirement Change: $(59,594) $(35,170)
Marlow Budget Comparison:
Governor’s Budget House Budget
Adequacy Aid change: $269,589 $269,589
Building Aid Change:
Catastrophic Aid Change:
Total Reduction in Revenue: $269,589 $269,589
Ed. Jobs Excess Funding: $16,165 $16,165
Change in Local Tax Dollars: $285,754 $285,754
Change in Local Tax Rate: $(4.54) $(4.54)
Impact on $100,000 home: $(454) $(454)
Deficit as a result of State Retirement Change: $(7,892) $(4,658)
Nelson Budget Comparison:
Governor’s Budget House Budget
Adequacy Aid change: $(37,693) $(37,693)
Building Aid Change:
Catastrophic Aid Change: $(61,360)
Total Reduction in Revenue: $(99,053) $(37,693)
Ed. Jobs Excess Funding: $10,135 $10,135
Change in Local Tax Dollars: $(88,918) $(27,558)
Change in Local Tax Rate: $0.74 $0.23
Impact on $100,000 home: $74 $23
Deficit as a result of State Retirement Change: $(11,773) $(6,948)
Westmoreland Budget Comparison:
Governor’s Budget House Budget
Adequacy Aid change: $50,431 $50,431
Building Aid Change: $(17,298)
Catastrophic Aid Change: $(33,315)
Total Reduction in Revenue: $(182) $50,431
Ed. Jobs Excess Funding: $22,719 $22,719
Change in Local Tax Dollars: $22,537 $73,150
Change in Local Tax Rate: $(0.11) $(0.35)
Impact on $100,000 home: $(11) $(35)
Deficit as a result of State Retirement Change: $(34,701) $(20,479)
