Berry: How Much Do We Have? Not Enough, Thanks to the Republicans

Commissioner of Administrative Services Charlie Arlinghaus recently said that the first step in the budget process is determining “How much do we have?”, meaning “how much does the state expect to get to fund state services”. Starting in 2016, the Republican-led legislature decided to reduce the Business Profits Tax and the Business Enterprise Tax, claiming that would spur economic development in NH. It didn’t! In fact, the nonpartisan NH Fiscal Policy Institute found that the business tax reductions have resulted in up to $1.17 billion in lost revenue to NH since 2015. (Check out their website for the complete analysis.) In addition, we are losing $3 million in interest earned on ARPA funds that was used to help fund the previous biennial. The Interest and Dividends Tax, which brought in $1.8 million in 2024, has been repealed. (Five out of ten people paying this tax received at least $200,000 in just INTEREST or DIVIDENDS.)

“How much do we have?” Well, a whole lot less than we did, which is why the Republican House budget recommends taking $50 million from UNH, under-funding its constitutional obligation to pay for an adequate education for public school students (while spending tens of millions on unregulated private school vouchers), and eliminating offices supporting child advocacy, the arts, human rights and early childhood education. These are just some of the cuts Republicans recommend to balance a budget based on their poor planning.
But wait, House Republicans think they can increase “how much we have” by expanding gambling and increasing fees on vehicle registrations, driver and fishing licenses, and even on burials at the Veteran’s Cemetery- fees that affect middle class and lower wage earners more than the wealthy.

“How much do we have?” Not nearly enough, and you can thank short-sighted Republican decisions for that.