NH OUTLOOK, Wednesday, 2/12/2003
script iconHello script iconTomorrow
script iconIntro Prop Tax script iconGoodnight
script iconProperty Tax script iconfounders
script iconIntro Discussion script iconTonight 10:00
script iconIntro Budget Primer script iconkey: State Politics / Government
script iconBudget Primer script iconWEB PROMO

script iconHello
Return to index of stories... 		Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to NH Outlook.
script iconIntro Prop Tax
Return to index of stories... 		How much do you know about the state budget? In this program we're going to bring you a budget primer as well as a conversation with the House and Senate Leadership about the current agenda.
But first, legislative leaders are looking for ways to limit the growth of the state budget by controlling the costs of education. Producer Richard Ager has the story.
script iconProperty Tax
Return to index of stories... 		Bite: legislature tape 1 10:16:43 We have been working with the governor's office and the Senate president and his leadership on how to address the current problems we have with education - particularly funding. We are all at the same table and in fact I think I can safely say we are all on the same page.
Track: One of the principal goals shared by Republican leaders at the statehouse is to control the growth of state education costs. House Bill 608 would limit annual increases in school aid by changing how educational adequacy is calculated.
Bite; legislature tape 1 10:07;46 The current formula basically selects a handful of school districts in the state that meet certain criteria and uses the spending in those school districts to calculate the base cost of an education. It was soon apparent to most of us that what that meant was, as they got more money from the state, they would automatically spend more money and the base cost would go higher, and then they'd spend more money and we'd have to pay more money until it got out of control.
Bite: legislature tape 2 11:03:45 School district budgets receive extensive scrutiny at public hearings and at votes by the public at annual school district meetings. To think that voters at annual school district meetings are just inflating their budgets, I think, flies in the face of the reality of school district meetings that we have every March in this state.
Track: The bill would limit any annual increase in school aid to the inflation rate as measured by the consumer price index. The bill would also lower the statewide property tax about 15%, from $5.80 to $4.92 per thousand. It would also end state support for transportation of high school students.
Bite: legislature tape 1 10:05:05 It collects only enough money from the statewide property tax to fund education. There is no additional money in here to fill in budget holes or to do any other projects. It's only, and strictly, to fund education.
Track: But critics of the bill say it will ensure more trouble in the future.
Bite: legislature tape 1 10:45:28 We are funding a little more than half of the cost of education in this state right now and calling it adequate. We've severely reduced it already. This bill reduces it further and it also ties it to an index that is increasing at a lower rate than the cost of wages in this state. We have a lot of teachers that are retiring soon. We're having trouble hiring new teachers - we're going to have to raise their pay at least as fast as wages are going up. If we pass this bill, within another 15 years, it will cost about 20% more to educate pupils relative to the rate the state is willing to give for adequate education, and we're going to be back where we were before.
Track: The bill sponsors also say that although this legislation does not include more targeted aid, it will make such aid easier to achieve. For NH Outlook, I'm Richard Ager.
script iconIntro Discussion
Return to index of stories... 		Earlier today, Richard sat down with House Speaker Gene Chandler and Senate President Tom Eaton to talk about the first month of this legislative session.
script iconIntro Budget Primer
Return to index of stories... 		With the governor's budget proposal coming out this week, Chip Neal took on the task of trying to understand the state budget. So, he enlisted the help of Doug Hall, former member of the house finance committee and currently co-director of the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies. Chip started with the most basic question.
script iconBudget Primer
Return to index of stories... 		Chip Neal talks with Doug Hall former member of the house finance committee and currently co-director of the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies. To put the state budget in context we learn where NH gets its money and where we spend it. We also learn that we work on a 2 year budget cycle. So, the current 7.8 billion dollar budget is for two years. We also learn that there are some parts of the budget which we have no real control over like Medicaid and Special Education
script iconTomorrow
Return to index of stories... 		On the next New Hampshire Outlook -
The Governor delivers his budget for the next biennium. you can see it broadcast LIVE at 10am, or on our website at nhptv.org. We'll have highlights and analysis at 10pm. we hope you'll join us.
script iconGoodnight
Return to index of stories... 		That's it for this edition of our program. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you next time on New Hampshire Outlook.
script iconfounders
Return to index of stories... 		Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook:
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
Public Service of New Hampshire
Stratford Foundation
script iconTonight 10:00
Return to index of stories... 		Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook.
The Governor delivers his budget for the next biennium. We'll have highlights and analysis.
Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook.
script iconkey: State Politics / Government
Return to index of stories... 		NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 2/12/03 22:00
HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes
In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, we're going to bring you a budget primer as well as a conversation with the House and Senate Leadership about the current agenda. But first, legislative leaders are looking for ways to limit the growth of the state budget by controlling the costs of education. Richard sat down with House Speaker Gene Chandler and Senate President Tom Eaton to talk about the first month of this legislative session. With the governor's budget proposal coming out this week, Chip Neal took on the task of trying to understand the state budget. So, he enlisted the help of Doug Hall, former member of the house finance committee and currently co-director of the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies.
PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Rep. David Hess\House Majority Leader, Dean Michener\NH School Board Assoc, Sen. Robert Clegg\Senate Majority Leader, Rep. Susan Almy\D - District 18, Rep. Gene Chandler\Speaker - NH House, Sen. Tom Eaton\President - NH Senate, Doug Hall\NH Center for Public Policy Studies
script iconWEB PROMO
Return to index of stories... 		Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook.
. Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television.
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