New Hampshire is blessed with one of the most efficiently run states in the union. New Hampshire ranks sixth in the nation for the most efficiently run state government and number one for use of taxpayer dollars. The governor’s measured and thoughtful approach to providing services and living within our means is the New Hampshire way.
The reckless and shortsighted cuts by members of the far-right libertarians, like Rep. Dan McGuire, if not righted by the New Hampshire Senate, will cost New Hampshire business owners money and tax revenue. We believe the callous way Rep. McGuire introduced the cuts to the Department of Corrections, including his direct quotes about “still making changes to the specific list,” and “working outside the commissioner,” is flat out wrong. He is refusing to listen to the very real impacts of the layoffs he is promoting with the work he did in House Finance Division 1.
Frankly, it demonstrates a disdain for the public service of our fellow citizens who make New Hampshire a safer place for all of us. People who work at the Department of Corrections deserve to have their service honored by all of us, not put into limbo to create a toxic work environment that pits them against each other based on recommendations from anonymous sources.
One glaring example of this shortsightedness is the elimination of the Arts Council. As Councilor Janet Stevens pointed out recently at an executive council meeting, this will mean a serious loss of revenue for everyone in New Hampshire. Councilor Stevens pointed us to the City of Portsmouth’s website that detailed “that Greater Portsmouth arts and culture generated $70.2 million in total economic activity during 2022 — $29.1 million by arts and culture organizations and an additional $41.1 million in event-related spending by their audiences. This local spending supports 1,250 jobs, generates $50.1 million in household income for residents, and delivers $13.1 million in tax revenues to local, state, and federal governments.”
This is a funding problem that goes beyond the arts to critical social services.
Short-funding public service programs often costs more than simply funding a program properly in the first place. A great example of this is what is happening with the New Hampshire Public Defender’s office. The current proposed budget funds the public defender at $28.8 million per year, but this is far below what the public defenders need to handle the full case load expected in a year. That means NHPD would have to turn away cases. Because providing indigent defense is a constitutional requirement that the state must pay for, the state would need to hire private counsel instead, at the rate of $125 per hour, which is approximately 2 times the typical cost of using a public defender. This is the opposite of running an efficient government.
As a result, the NHPD projects that if it is funded at the proposed levels, the state will likely have to pay an additional $15.6 million for cases that will have to be referred to assigned private counsel. However, if the state funds the recommended NHPD budget of $37 million, then aside from cases sent to external counsel due to conflicts, no additional cases would need to be assigned to private counsel, and the state would save over $7 million each year of the biennium. It’s a no-brainer.
With the cuts proposed by the House, some agencies have already had to rescind offers to potential hires. This is damaging the state’s longevity and ability to hire. The callous treatment of state employees by Rep. Dan McGuire, toward people who dedicate their lives to the state of New Hampshire, and ensuring we have a functioning justice system. These cuts, if implemented, will put the lives of our corrections officers, remaining civilian staff, and public at risk.
Final point: it’s not all about our union members. It’s about all of us as a community here in the Granite State. The House Finance has a $2.5 million reduction in the budget based on the Pharmaceutical Drug Advisory Board recommendations. Yet, House Finance in its dramatic short-sidedness cut their $250,000 annual budget to operate? Spending $250,000 to get $2.5 seems like a worthy expenditure, and our union is calling for their restoration as well as the complete restoration of Gov. Ayotte’s budget.
