“Ayotte Signs Budget That Betrays NH Families, Rewards the Wealthy”
NH Groups Condemn Final Budget, Say It Puts Working Families Last
CONCORD, NH – Leading grassroots organizations representing thousands of Granite Staters—603 Forward, MomsRising, New Hampshire Youth Movement, Granite State Organizing Project, Rights and Democracy, and the NH School Funding Fairness Project—issued a joint statement today in response to the passage and rushed signing of the final state budget by Governor Kelly Ayotte last Friday afternoon.
The groups condemned the budget as a dangerous and devastating plan that will drive New Hampshire deeper into an economic crisis. By prioritizing the wealthy and well-connected, it abandons working families and accelerates inequality across the state. Volunteers and members from every corner of New Hampshire shared powerful, personal stories at last week’s Fight For Our Future rally—laying bare how these brutal cuts to health care, child care, and education will upend their lives, weaken their communities, and leave the most vulnerable behind.
“With the Governor’s signature, this budget is now law, and with it, a clear message: wealth wins, and working people lose. It rewards those at the top while punishing Granite Staters who are just trying to get by. Thousands of people across the state did everything right. They took time out of their jobs, families, and lives to engage in a process that too often shuts them out. They showed up to otherwise inaccessible hearings, flooded lawmakers with calls and messages, and courageously shared deeply personal stories—all in the hope that their voices would matter. And still, they were ignored. Now, they’ll be the ones paying the price—through higher costs, fewer opportunities, and policies that make it harder to build a life in New Hampshire.” — Matt Mooshian, Program Director, 603 Forward
“Right now in New Hampshire, working full time, even working two or three jobs, still does not guarantee you an affordable, safe, stable place to live. That’s not a personal failure, that’s a policy failure. That’s the direct result of decisions that put profits over people… Teachers, nurses, construction workers, grocery clerks, the people who keep our economy running can’t afford to live in the places they serve. And if you do manage to hang on to housing, guess what? The system hits you again. New Hampshire has some of the highest property taxes in the country because the state refuses to fund our public schools fairly… Parents want their kids to go to school safely, but the system is forcing us to choose between financial survival and basic public services. That’s not just sad. It’s wrong, and it shows exactly how our broken tax system and New Hampshire’s current and future budget priorities are hurting our kids, our families, and our future.” — Rosie Emrich, Hooksett
“We are tired of waiting for anything to trickle down. It’s not trickling down. We must speak up against this unjust budget that is only telling us all we can have is the crumbs. We don’t want the crumbs. We want the full amount…We must speak with a fearless voice that declares that we will stand together, and that there’s enough in our state, in our country, for every person to flourish.” — Pastor Jon Hopkins
“Sometimes I had to decide between going to the doctor, paying rent or buying groceries. That’s not a decision a cancer patient or anyone should have to make. I’m not living the American dream. I rent my place, I drive a 13-year-old car, and I live paycheck to paycheck. Cancer is expensive, and private insurance is just as costly. But we continue to tell each other life is priceless. In that case, our actions must reflect that—and that starts changing today. When I lost that job, I lost my health insurance. I couldn’t afford COBRA or anything on the marketplace, and Medicaid was and is a lifeline for me. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to access medical care I need. I can focus on my care and not worry about which bills to pay. Without medical care, I will not be alive. I’m not ready to die yet. And neither are many others like me.” — Michelle Lawrence, Manchester
“This budget doesn’t fix the crisis—it fuels it. And with her signature, Governor Ayotte is making it clear exactly who she serves: not the people of New Hampshire, but her wealthiest donors and her friends on the boards of multinational corporations. Thousands of our friends and neighbors will now be forced to choose between keeping their health insurance or putting food on the table, paying the power bill or affording child care—because of the new medicaid income tax on working families. Every lawmaker who backed this bill has chosen to abandon the very people who keep this state running—and we won’t forget it.” — Lucas Meyer, Founder and Senior Advisor, Our Economy Our Future
The cuts to college funding in Kelly Ayotte's budget will hurt me and every other student at a public university in the state. New Hampshire already has some of the highest in state tuition costs for higher education in the country. With 20 million dollars worth of cuts to universities in this budget, that price tag will keep going up and students and their families will keep getting squeezed as they try to earn a chance at a better life. — Ty Wyman, UNH undergraduate student
“The effects of the ballooning voucher program cost, which could skyrocket from 26 million dollars to well beyond the budgeted 39 million dollars, are real. In fact, it will cost 45 million dollars if the ten thousand student cap is reached. The effects are quantifiable. They’re palpable. In Franklin, we’ve lost the equivalent of 34 positions in the past two years trying to make up for funding shortfalls, and we’ve had to move another 15 positions to variable grant funding. We had to reduce our total budget by 3% for this upcoming year. That’s right. Reduce — while everywhere costs are increasing. We can’t stand to lose much more, and we’re not alone. The voucher expansion paid for in this budget lacks accountability and oversight, perpetuates inequities, and exacerbates diseconomies of scale that disproportionately affect Franklin and communities like us.” — Liz Cote, Franklin School Board Member
“While New Hampshire families are doing everything they can to make ends meet–struggling with child care, housing, and the rising prices of everything, the legislature passed a budget that makes one thing painfully clear: our families are not the priority. Instead of meeting the moment with real investments and solutions, lawmakers chose tax breaks for the wealthy and cuts to the very services our families rely on. Moms see through it. We’re the ones filling the gaps, stretching every dollar and holding everything together when the system fails us. And we’re tired of being ignored. Lawmakers are heading home, but moms are paying attention. We saw what you did. And we’re just getting started.” — MacKenzie Nicholson, Senior Director, MomsRising New Hampshire
“With this budget, the legislature has once again failed to meet the moment and deliver for students and taxpayers around New Hampshire by adequately funding public education in New Hampshire. Instead this budget continues to downshift costs to local property tax payers, does not even keep up with inflation for public schools, and puts at risk over $1 billion in State aid if school districts "knowingly or unknowingly" violate vague, confusing language prohibiting schools from providing every student with additional resources and programs they need to succeed. Meanwhile, the unaccountable school voucher program could quickly balloon to over $100 million a year, funneling money away from our public schools and subsidizing private education for the wealthiest families in our state." — Zack Sheehan, Executive Director, NH School Funding Fairness Project
By the Numbers: Who This Budget Hurts
New $270/month Medicaid Income Tax on working families. Forcing those who can least afford it to choose between keeping their health coverage or paying for everyday essentials like groceries.
$100+ million diverted from public schools through an over-budget private school voucher expansion—leaving local property taxpayers to make up the difference.
Fails to invest in housing, despite a statewide housing shortage driving up rents and pushing Granite Staters out of their communities. This budget includes no new investments in housing affordability or development.
18% cut to New Hampshire’s public universities, slashing $35 million and putting affordable higher education further out of reach.
$51 million stripped from the Department of Health and Human Services, jeopardizing critical services like child care, mental health care, substance use treatment, and support for vulnerable families.
$20 million raid from the Renewable Energy Fund, despite its success in lowering energy costs in a state with the eighth-highest utility bills in the nation.
4 of 9 positions eliminated at the Office of the Child Advocate, reducing oversight and weakening protections for children at risk of abuse or neglect.
$150 million needed – only $20 million delivered — for the YDC settlement fund, shortchanging hundreds of abuse survivors and delaying justice
Fails to invest in child care, exacerbating one of the biggest workforce crisis plaguing our families and businesses with higher costs and less options.
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About the Organizations:
603 Forward builds political power among young Granite Staters through advocacy, civic education, and leadership development.
MomsRising works to advance economic security and equity for mothers, caregivers, and families.
New Hampshire Youth Movement is a youth-led, grassroots organization fighting for a just and equitable New Hampshire.
Granite State Organizing Project is a multi-faith, multiracial community organization advancing economic and racial justice.
Rights and Democracy NH brings together working people to build power and win a government and economy that works for all.
NH School Funding Fairness Project works to educate and empower people across the state to support legislative solutions to ensure all our children have access to an excellent public education regardless of zip code.
