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Patricia
"Ricia" McMahon
State
Representative, District 3
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June
29, 2009
Representative
McMahon is a member of the House Executive Department &
Administration Committee, and represents the towns of Newbury and
Sutton.
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Spending Level of the New State Budget
The NH budget for the next biennium was the most difficult to construct and agree upon. The members of the House and Senate who participated in crafting the budget over the past six months were diligent and determined to present a balanced budget.
However by virtue of the challenges NH faces it is not a surprise that criticism for not spending more in some areas and reducing funds in others may be directed toward the Governor and the legislature. Choices are rarely or never unanimous.
The independent Center for Public Policy Studies, a non-partisan organization that focuses on policy analysis, states that General Fund spending has decreased by more than 1 percent. The Governor’s office says the decrease is 1.1 percent.
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Others who disagree with the priorities in the budget use fuzzy numbers in an attempt to create discord and will try to confuse our citizens. I believe NH residents won’t be swayed by their fuzzy math or by their method of pulling numbers out of the air!
The independent Center for Public Policy Studies says general fund spending is declining by more than 1 percent in this budget.
• The new state budget decreases state spending by about 1.1 percent by making significant cuts and governmental reforms and closing tax loopholes, all while continuing to fund the state’s core responsibilities.
• The state is ending fiscal year 2009 without a deficit, unlike many other states in the country.
• With baseline revenue projections below 2004 levels, and at the same time the need for essential services at their highest, the legislature needed to make hard decisions.
A critical aim of the budget was to fully fund an Adequate Education for all NH students.
Ricia McMahon msricia@yahoo.com
State Representative,
Merrimack County District 3
Newbury and Sutton
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