Gov. Kelly Ayotte unveiled a budget underpinned by rosy projections that the state’s business taxes — which have lagged for months — will soon see a strong comeback. A document reviewed by the Bulletin indicates the governor’s revenue projections for the next two years are $527 million higher than those being considered by the House Ways and Means Committee this week. The differing projections could undercut some of the spending priorities Ayotte laid out , and could lead House lawmakers to recommend cutting some spending from her budget when they make their own tweaks from now until the whole House must pass it to the Senate April 10.
New Hampshire businesses may lose an estimated $56 million annually due to the lack of available licensed child care slots, according to a new study from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. The study’s findings underscore how workforce shortages, high costs, and limited child care options are creating significant barriers for working parents and hampering the state’s economic growth. Key findings from The Economic Impact of the Granite State’s Child Care Shortage include: Business losses due to reduced productivity and workforce disruptions totaled $36 million to $56 million in 2023. New Hampshire families lost an estimated $114 million to $178 million in earnings in 2023 due to inadequate child care availability. State and local tax revenues may have been reduced by $9 million to $14 million due to inadequate child care availability, equating to nearly $1,300 to $2,000 per unavailable child care slot in 2023.
INDepthNH February 17 & 18, 2025