Sununu signs surplus spending bill

New Hampshire is experiencing a budget surplus due to some changes in federal tax law. The House and Senate voted to spend the surplus funds as follows:

• A pay raise for state employees and officials, in accordance with contract negotiations (most of the covered employees are getting a 1.5% raise);
• $20 million for red list bridge projects;
• $10.4 million for municipally-owned high traffic volume bridge projects;
• $10 million for the rainy day fund;
• $1 million to support “recovery friendly workplace programs” offered by nonprofits, such as programs that train employers how to reduce substance misuse in the workplace;

Click here to learn more about the debate around funding for addiction treatment

• $2.5 million for the Affordable Housing Fund to develop transitional housing for those leaving mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities;

Click here to learn more about the debate around mental health treatment funding

• $300,000 for the State Loan Repayment Program, which helps employees in certain critical fields pay back student loans;
• Revising the formula for “disproportionate share hospital payments,” which go to hospitals for providing uncompensated care to low income patients, following a recent court ruling that New Hampshire government underpaid hospitals by $71 million. 

The governor issued the following statement on the bill:

“In addition to carrying a significant amount into next year and adding to the rainy day fund, this surplus will give New Hampshire the opportunity to make critical and fiscally responsible investments using one time monies for one time expenditures, all while sending money directly to municipalities to repair roads and bridges in support of local taxpayers.”
- Gov. Chris Sununu

How would you suspend the surplus in New Hampshire? Share your opinion in the comments below.