How much will the budget cost you?
Granite Staters are bracing for the very real consequences of Kelly Ayotte and New Hampshire Republicans’ budget, which is one of the worst state budgets in New Hampshire’s history. The disastrous budget takes away services that everyday people rely on, and has ripple effects on their daily lives in deeply personal ways.
Cuts Affordable Housing Initiatives Amidst Worsening Housing Crisis
Kelly Ayotte signed a state budget that cuts funding for affordable housing initiatives, despite the fact that Granite Staters consistently say the state needs to prioritize affordable housing solutions to address the ongoing housing crisis. This budget will make housing even more expensive in New Hampshire.
The National Association of Realtors reported that the median price of a single-family home in New Hampshire has reached a record high of $565,000, and 87% of rental properties in New Hampshire are already considered unaffordable. This budget does nothing to solve the increasingly unattainable housing market, and with cuts to affordable housing programs, properties will become more expensive.
The Department of Business and Economic Affairs reported that the state has fallen significantly behind in meeting its necessary goal of adding 32,704 homes by the end of 2025. This failure falls solely on Kelly Ayotte and the NHGOP, who refuse to make any meaningful investments in housing solutions, despite the statewide housing shortage that is driving up rents and pushing Granite Staters out of their communities.
New Hampshire saw a staggering 52% increase in homelessness over the past year, meanwhile the national average increased by 4 times less than that.
Instead of making a meaningful effort to address the crisis, House Republicans’ budget does not include any additional funding to expand the housing supply and meet demands across the state. House Republicans and Governor Ayotte believe “what we have is working,” — but the vast majority of Granite Staters disagree.
Raises Health Care Costs on Working Families
Kelly Ayotte’s budget will exponentially raise health care costs for working families across the Granite State, leaving them to pay higher insurance costs and higher prescription drug costs.
Families will be forced to pay upwards of an additional $270 a month just to keep health care for their children. Granite Staters on Medicaid will be required to pay as much as $1,200 a year to retain health coverage. This massive hike in health care costs is a direct result of Kelly Ayotte’s budget that does nothing to make life easier or more affordable for Granite Staters.
People across New Hampshire will have to choose between health insurance or putting food on the table for their families. Surprise hospital visits will financially burden health care centers, leading to higher provider rates or hospitals having to close their doors altogether.
Guts Public Education To Fund School Vouchers for the Ultra-Wealthy
Kelly Ayotte signed a budget that diverts over $100 million in taxpayer dollars from New Hampshire’s public schools to fund private school vouchers that the ultra-wealthy can use to pay for private school expenses while leaving local property taxpayers to make up the difference.
A 2023 court ruling found that New Hampshire is underfunding public education by close to $1 billion per year, yet Kelly Ayotte and New Hampshire Republicans chose to leave New Hampshire’s public schools behind while the ultra-wealthy receive millions to pay for private school tuition.
Slashes Higher Education Funds
Despite New Hampshire already providing less support to its university system than any other state, Kelly Ayotte signed a budget that makes an 18% cut ($35 million) to New Hampshire’s public colleges and universities. Higher education will become even less accessible for New Hampshire students who want to remain in-state.
The USNH system itself is an “investment in the future of New Hampshire’s economy.” The flagship campus, UNH, generates $1.3 billion in economic output annually, supports nearly 9,000 jobs, and contributes over $74 million in state and local tax revenue. The GOP budget will adversely affect New Hampshire’s economy, as Republicans fail to support the future generation of Granite Staters.
Young people consistently say that they have fewer reasons to stay here because of high in-state tuition rates, unaffordable housing and childcare, and a Republican legislature that is more focused on culture wars than innovation and progress. Resolving this crisis requires a commitment not only to Granite State students but to New Hampshire’s future success. It’s clear that Governor Ayotte and Republicans in Concord are incapable of rising to that challenge.
