During the Senate Finance Committee’s Public Hearing on the state budget, NHSFFP delivered a petition with over 400 signatures from Granite Staters as testimony to show the broad support for education funding reform and treating students and property taxpayers fairly. The signatures represent 131 cities and towns and come from every county in New Hampshire.

“Clearly, Granite Staters are fed up with our unfair school funding system,” NHSFFP Executive Director Zack Sheehan said. “People see the impacts of low state funding for education every single day, and they are making it clear they want a change. The legislature needs to use this budget as an opportunity to fulfill their constitutional responsibility to fund education and treat students and taxpayers fairly.”

A similar letter, signed by over 150 local elected officials, was delivered to the House Finance Committee during its budget hearing in March.

May 2, 2023

Chairman Gray and Members of the Senate Finance Committee,

The State continues to fail to meet its constitutional obligation to fund public education, leaving a significant gap in funding between what it contributes per student (about $4,700), and the actual cost of education (about $19,000 per student). The difference is downshifted to our local property taxes year after year, harming students and residents in New Hampshire communities that are less able to raise funds. This system has continued for decades despite multiple NH Supreme Court rulings that it is unconstitutional. It has continued despite the findings of the 2020 Commission to Study School Funding showing increasing rates for taxpayers and fewer educational opportunities for students in communities with low property values.

A letter signed by over 150 local elected officials outlining these problems and the need to fix them was delivered to lawmakers during the House budget hearing in March. The budget that was originally proposed by the Governor would have hurt school districts with the highest need even more than the current system by reducing funding for these districts by $1.3 billion over the next ten years. The House Finance Committee did not address these issues in their recommended changes to the budget. Ultimately, thanks to bipartisan action on the floor of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, targeted, need-based funding was reintroduced to the budget. This signals that there is broad support for providing need-based funding to the New Hampshire communities that need it most. As positive as these developments may be, lawmakers still have a long way to go to address our inequitable school funding system.

As citizens, constituents, parents, taxpayers, business owners, and Granite Staters, we call on the Senate to develop an equitable and comprehensive school funding solution that works for every community in New Hampshire. We should not be paying wildly different property tax rates because the legislature refuses to act. Our children’s access to an adequate education should not be solely based on our property values. Until the State takes action to comply with its constitutional responsibility to fund our schools, the educational and economic development opportunities that come with good schools and low taxes will not be available to everyone. We urge you to use this state budget as a vehicle to address this problem and support a fair funding solution for every student and taxpayer in New Hampshire.

Respectfully,

 

Claudia Istel, Acworth

Merryl Goldman, Alexandria

Maureen Higham, Allenstown

Keith Klawes, Allenstown

Ryan Mahoney, Allenstown

Ellen Jahos, Alstead

Margaret LaRaia, Amherst

Kathryn Schmidt, Amherst

Mary Anne Broshek, Andover

Carmelita Moe, Andover

Marie Nardino, Andover

William Radzelovage, Andover

Denise Legault, Atkinson

Elizabeth Duck, Auburn

Roger Gingrich, Barrington

Muriel Dubois, Bedford

Margaret Henrichon, Bedford

Emily Hinton, Bedford

Annemarie Quinn, Bedford

Diane St Germain, Bedford

Dwight Swauger, Benton

Catrina Annis, Berlin

Rep. Corinne Cascadden, Berlin

Julie King, Berlin

Martha Laflamme, Berlin

Lori Langlois, Berlin

Nathan Morin, Berlin

Linda Poulin, Berlin

Anthony Valliere, Berlin

Erin Talcott, Bethlehem

Jacqueline Coe, Bow

Karen Reynolds, Bradford

John Reynolds, Bradford

Steven Dawson, Brentwood

Jennifer Dolloff, Brookline

Tracy Perry, Brookline

Elise Foxall, Canaan

Liz Knowlton, Canaan

Hope Stragnell, Canaan

Charles Townsend, Canaan

Doris Hampton, Canterbury

Mark Hampton, Canterbury

Patrice Rasche, Canterbury

Stephen Rasche, Canterbury

Lyla Adkins, Center Barnstead

Jane Westlake, Center Barnstead

Brenda Baker, Charlestown

Joseph DeBartolomao, Charlestown

Lisa DeBartolomao, Charlestown

Mary Holmes, Charlestown

Joan Ilves, Charlestown

Katie Lajoie, Charlestown

John Lajoie, Charlestown

Shelley Saylor, Charlestown

Sara Valli, Charlestown

Lianne Crowley, Chester

Charlotte Lister, Chester

Manette Pacheco, Chester

Ann Podlipny, Chester

Royal Richardson, Chester

Benjamin Brown, Chichester

Suzanne Butler, Chichester

Heather Chiavaras, Chichester

Tammy Jameson, Chichester

Brenda Baker, Claremont

Jimmie Baker, Claremont

John Cloutier, Claremont

Thomas Connair, Claremont

James Contois, Claremont

Candace Crawford, Claremont

Julie Davis, Claremont

Patricia Dexter, Claremont

Liza Draper, Claremont

Donna Foster, Claremont

Tracey Hanson, Claremont

Ashley Johnson, Claremont

Charlene Lovett, Claremont

Donna Montenegro, Claremont

Allison St. Aubin, Claremont

Amanda Steinberg, Claremont

Zackary Thomas, Claremont

Amber Calhoun, Colebrook

Craig Hamelin, Colebrook

Christina Hebert, Colebrook

Roxie Heist, Colebrook

Brooke Kenney, Colebrook

Darcy Smith, Colebrook

Michelle Strasburger, Colebrook

Tim Ames, Concord

Patricia Bass, Concord

Patrice Brown, Concord

Claudia Damon, Concord

Mary Davies, Concord

Jillian Dubois, Concord

Michael Evans, Concord

Jerry Frew, Concord

Marion Gazaway, Concord

Daniel Gazaway, Concord

Michael Macri, Concord

Linda Mattlage, Concord

Casey Neal, Concord

Ruth Perencevich, Concord

Donna Reardon, Concord

Maureen Redmond-Scura, Concord

Sarah Robinson, Concord

Jim Schlosser, Concord

Zack Sheehan, Concord

Louise Spencer, Concord

Mary Wilke, Concord

Renia Woods, Concord

Linda Ruth Berger, Contoocook

Patrice Fredette, Contoocook

Christa Scura, Contoocook

  1. Lisa Sheiman, Contoocook

Janet Ward, Contoocook

Kris Cairelli, Croydon

Susan Kimball, Croydon

Amanda Leslie, Croydon

Samantha Nelson, Croydon

Christopher Prost, Croydon

Ryan Shackett, Croydon

William Smith, Croydon

Edward Spiker, Croydon

Lynn Touchette, Croydon

Patricia Walke, Croydon

Brenda Williams, Croydon

Laura Messer, Danbury

Linda Wilson, Danbury

Jacqueline Trimmer, Deerfield

Chris Bober, Deering

Craig Cunningham, Derry

Elle Gallo, Derry

Michelle Moge, Derry

Maybeth Anderson, Dover

Dustin Beckemeyer, Dover

Micaela Demeter, Dover

Brian Eibert, Dover

Heidi Henninger, Dover

Linds Jakows, Dover

Jo Jordon, Dover

Andrew Wallace, Dover

Debra Foster, Dunbarton

Pam Mueller, Durham

Susan Richman, Durham

Katie Wheeler, Durham

Jen Dervan, East Kingston

Peter Dervan, East Kingston

Erin Vosgien, East Kingston

Maureen Prohl, Elkins

James Fenn, Enfield

Aarron Dupuis, Epping

Brendon Follansbee, Epping

Jason Follansbee, Epping

Michelle Mylott, Epping

Jordenne Sargent, Epping

Mark Vallone, Epping

Kiki Donis-Wahl, Exeter

Maura Fay, Exeter

Richard Ballou, Farmington

Emmanuel Krasner, Farmington

Glenn Oswald, Farmington

Judith Ackerson, Franklin

Scott Burns, Franklin

Delaney Carrier, Franklin

Laurie Cass, Franklin

Vincent Ribas, Franklin

William Yacopucci, Franklin

Betty Erickson, Georges Mills

Kevin Pentz, Gilford

Terry Burlingame, Gilmanton Iron Works

Jennifer Beaudet, Goffstown

Nicole Bump, Goffstown

Barbara Carbonneau, Goffstown

Carolyn Cicciu, Goffstown

Heather Glynn, Goffstown

Alexandria Hill, Goffstown

Daniel McCrum, Gorham

Deborah McCrum, Gorham

Carolyn Stiles, Goshen

Christine Conroy, Grantham

Vivian Dolkart, Grantham

Karla Karash, Grantham

Sara Lang, Grantham

Susan Orkin, Grantham

Karen Day, Greenfield

Sue Kim, Greenfield

Brendan Minnihan, Greenfield

Lisa DeMio, Hampstead

Karl Hubner, Hampstead

Laurie Warnock, Hampstead

Colton Cadarette, Hampton

Chayleigh Cadarette, Hampton

Kathy Anderson, Hancock

Ed Butler, Hart’s Location

Cathy Mayne, Henniker

Eric Herr, Hill

Terry Smith, Hill

Veronica Harris, Holderness

Frances Taylor, Holderness

Scott Zipke, Hopkinton

Deborah Cantrell, Hudson

Kathleen Logan, Hudson

Nancy Ancharski, Keene

Marie Duggan, Keene

Jennifer Friedman, Keene

Nicholas Germana, Keene

John Hayward, Keene

Sandra Swinburne, Keene

Kathy Berman, Laconia

Teresa Donovan, Laconia

Jane Brickett, Lancaster

Paula Frank, Lancaster

Derek HasBrouck, Lancaster

Ronna HasBrouck, Lancaster

Robert Scott, Lancaster

Kristen van Bergen-Buteau, Lancaster

John Fitzgerald, Lisbon

John Northrop III, Lisbon

Ed Friedrich, Loudon

Dennis Jakubowski, Loudon

Laurie Jaquith, Loudon

Jill Orndorff, Loudon

Corinne Rowe, Loudon

Laura Vincent, Loudon

Barry Brensinger, Manchester

Suzanne Chretien, Manchester

Derik Goodine, Manchester

Jessica Hagg, Manchester

Madelyn McCluskey, Manchester

Karen Soule, Manchester

Marcella Termini, Manchester

Courtney Tomes, Manchester

Olivia Bregani, Marlborough

Tina Fava, Marlow

Richard Lammers, Marlow

Aime Reed, Marlow

Stephanie Tickner, Marlow

Jessica Gagne, Merrimack

Shannon Taylor, Milan

Julia Griffin, Milford

Claire Holston, Milford

Kim Paniagua, Milford

Cynthia Couture, Moultonborough

Jessica Goff, Nashua

Ernest Jette, Nashua

Pamela Jordan, Nashua

Cynthia Knowles, Nashua

Regan Lamphier, Nashua

John McCannon, Nashua

Dorothy Oden, Nashua

Carry Spier, Nashua

Noah Telerski, Nashua

Thomas Woodward, Nashua

Tom Buttrick, Nelson

Misty Crompton, New Boston

Rebecca Audet, New Castle

Ellen Phillips, New Durham

Lisa Clark, New Hampton

Elizabeth Hager, New Hampton

Tamara Van Lenten, New Hampton

Courtney Campe, New London

Elaine Robar, New London

Alan Shulman, New London

Robert Hemenway, Newbury

Gabriele Lieberg, Newfields

Michael Cahill, Newmarket

Joseph Lamattina, Newmarket

Kathleen Malsbenden, Newmarket

Jennifer Aldridge, Newport

Amy Beaulieu, Newport

Bruce Beford, Newport

Jessica Benson, Newport

Mary Boardman, Newport

Kathryn Boutin, Newport

Linda Dennis, Newport

Carol Dombroski, Newport

Howard Dunn, Newport

Margot Estabrook, Newport

Lisa Ferrigno, Newport

Lori Flewelling, Newport

Todd Fratzel, Newport

Christine Fratzel, Newport

Donna Gagner, Newport

Steven George, Newport

Elizabeth Gibbs, Newport

Stephanie Gilson, Newport

Robert Gilson, Newport

Regina Grantham, Newport

Keri Greenwood, Newport

Hillary Halleck, Newport

Chad Howe, Newport

Kathy Hubert, Newport

G.M. Jachim, Newport

Laurel Jackson, Newport

Gloria Jean Johnson, Newport

Jeffrey Kessler, Newport

Susan Latham, Newport

John Lunn, Newport

Ann MacConnell, Newport

Becky McAllister, Newport

Terry Morgan, Newport

Rep. Skip Rollins, Newport

Mary Schissel, Newport

Robert Seavey, Newport

Stephanie Spiker, Newport

Ann Stout, Newport

Herbert Tellor Jr, Newport

Andrea Thorpe, Newport

Joanne Truell, Newport

Victoria Turcot, Newport

Charen Urban, Newport

Frank Wiggins, Newport

Gail Wild, Newport

Judy Wilson, Newport

Christopher Young, Newport

Kim Marie Fudge, North Conway

Robert Barry, North Hampton

Susan McCullom-Barry, North Hampton

Laurie Melanson, North Haverhill

Bonnie Balsamo, North Stratford

Eric Brungot, North Stratford

Stacey Campbell, North Stratford

Heather McMann, North Stratford

Dane Headley, North Sutton

Barbara D. Reed, North Swanzey

Joyce Fulweiler, Northfield

Tom Chase, Northwood

Stuart Fyfe, Nottingham

Charlotte Fyfe, Nottingham

Rusty Keith, Orford

Susan Harden, Pelham

David Doherty, Pembroke

Sharon Eaton, Pembroke

Clinton Hanson, Pembroke

Tracy Bricchi, Penacook

Stephanie Edwards, Penacook

Kate Coon, Peterborough

Joseph Ierna, Peterborough

Laurie McGowan, Peterborough

Abigail Meyer, Peterborough

Bruce Berk, Pittsfield

Susan Russo, Plainfield

Nancy Bishop, Plaistow

Eleanor Bird, Portsmouth

Thaddeus Jankowski, Portsmouth

Patrick Minnihan, Portsmouth

Lucianna Natkiel, Portsmouth

Richard Umiker, Randolph

Derek Haddad, Raymond

Beth Voce, Rochester

Erin Cavanaugh, Rollinsford

Abbie Bennis, Rumney

Lorna Carlisle, Salisbury

Dana Nute, Sanbornton

Karen Ulmer Dorsch, Sanbornton

Linda Jamison, Sandown

Nancy Starmer, Sandwich

Susan Collins, Seabrook

Donald Austin, Somersworth

Lori Lane, Somersworth

Carly Prescott, Somersworth

Michelle DellaVita, Spofford

Arthur Bobruff, Springfield

Barbara Holland, Springfield

Jan McGonagle, Stoddard

Elizabeth A Callahan, Strafford

Amy Kriete, Strafford

Wendy E Byrn, Sullivan

Catherineapa Bushueff, Sunapee

George Chait, Sunapee

Representative Hope Damon, Sunapee

Heide Hubert-Menard, Sunapee

Andrew Jobes, Suncook

Caroll Lothrop, Surry

Bruce Smith, Surry

Mary Breasted Smyth, Tamworth

Angela Driscoll, Tamworth

Maura King, Tamworth

Peter vonSneidern, Temple

Peggy Pschirrer, Walpole

Clyde Carson, Warner

Elizabeth Fenner-Lukaitis, Warner

Gary Lukaitis, Warner

Sara Mcneil, Warner

Faith Minton, Warner

Judy Pellettieri, Warner

Melissa St Pierre, Warner

Dorothy Gove, Warren

Chris Lea, Warren

Peter Lees, Warren

Janet Proost, Warren

David Trumble, Weare

Beth Bean, Wentworth

Susan Judd, Wentworth

Evelyn Michaud, Wentworth

Damon Kindopp, West Chesterfield

Carol Morrison, West Lebanon

William Morrison, West Lebanon

Rep. Tom Schamberg, Wilmot

Gene Jonas, Wilton

Wendy Carter, Windham

Phyllis Ward, Windham

Richard Guy, Woodsville