Committee Summary for Senate Finance (01/14/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB35 00:26:10.279 - 12:25:16 PM	Public Hearing	making an appropriation for rail trail project matching funds.	Innis, Daniel(R)[B]2025
SB20 00:47:16.760 - 12:46:22 PM	Public Hearing	relative to payment by the state of a portion of retirement system contributions of political subdivision employers.	Rosenwald, Cindy(D)[F]2025

SB35: Dan Innis, Bradford, NH Support00:26:10.279 - 12:25:16 PM; Senator Innis supports SB35, which appropriates $600,000 to the DOT as matching funds for a section of the Contoocook Lake Sunapee Rail Trail between Warner and Cook. He highlighted the economic benefits of rail trails, citing the example of Loveland, Ohio, where a rail trail spurred local business growth. He mentioned that last year, the project was initially funded by ARPA funds, but those funds could not be used as matching funds for federal grants. He believes this project will help in the long-term development of the trail and bring economic activity to the area.
SB35: David Carroll, Warner, NH Oppose00:30:21.000 - 12:29:27 PM; David Carroll opposes the rail trail project, citing severe environmental impacts on the Warner River ecosystem, which he describes as remarkably healthy with significant biodiversity. He argues that the trail would degrade habitats, particularly for endangered species like the wood turtle, and that the presence of humans would be detrimental to the riverine and riparian areas. He believes the project contradicts best practices for trail building near sensitive environmental areas.
SB35: Barbara, Warner, NH Oppose00:37:51.240 - 12:36:57 PM; Barbara, a resident of Warner, opposes the appropriation for the rail trail, emphasizing environmental concerns. She argues that building a trail along the Warner River would cause significant damage to the ecosystem, which is designated for its natural qualities and supports at-risk species. She also questions the validity of the congestion mitigation and air quality grant, as Warner has no such issues. Additionally, she raises concerns about the economic impact on Warner, predicting increased costs for maintenance and emergency services.
SB35: Tim Blagden, Warner, NH, Board Chair for the Contoocook Lake Sunapee Rail Trail Support00:42:43.000 - 12:41:49 PM; Tim Blagden supports the funding request for the rail trail, noting its popularity and economic benefits in other parts of the state. He mentions that the trail would not only serve recreational purposes but also enable active transportation, helping to reunite the town by providing a safe route for residents. He addressed environmental concerns by explaining that much of the trail would be built in the Interstate 89 median, minimizing impact on sensitive areas.
SB20: Sydney Rosen-Wal, Nashua, NH Support00:47:16.760 - 12:46:22 PM; Senator Rosen-Wal supports SB20, which proposes that the state pays 7.5% of the employer cost for the public employee pension system. She argues that this would be the only true mechanism for reducing local property taxes since it directly lowers the bill municipalities and counties receive. She cited Nashua's experience where the state's failure to contribute since 2011 has cost property taxpayers an additional $100 million. She emphasized that this contribution would not encourage overpayment of employees and is crucial for addressing the cost of living issues faced by residents.
SB20: Dennis, Dover, NH Support00:55:47.359 - 12:54:53 PM; Dennis, representing Dover, supports SB20, highlighting the city's cautious approach to spending and hiring over the past years. He noted that Dover's hiring increases have been minimal and focused on essential services like fire and rescue, which have seen a significant increase in service calls. He believes the state's 7.5% contribution to the pension system would directly reduce the property tax burden on residents, especially given the city's tax cap which ensures any savings are passed onto taxpayers.
SB20: Margaret Burns, New Hampshire Municipal Association Support01:05:33.640 - 1:04:39 PM; Margaret Burns, representing the New Hampshire Municipal Association, supports SB20, advocating for the restoration of the state's retirement contribution to municipalities. She appreciates previous legislative efforts to increase state aid and sees this bill as a continuation of that partnership between the state and municipalities. She argues that any additional revenue or decreased expenses for municipalities effectively provide property tax relief.
SB20: Dave Caron, Derry, NH Support01:08:26.759 - 1:07:32 PM; Dave Caron, the Town Administrator of Derry, supports SB20, noting that the state's failure to honor its 35% commitment since 2010 has resulted in an additional $14.4 million in property taxes for Derry residents. He emphasized that in tax cap communities like Derry, any relief provided by the state directly impacts the bottom line, as demonstrated by past instances where state aid helped manage budget increases without raising taxes.
SB20: Jim Donchess, Nashua, NH Support01:11:39.280 - 1:10:45 PM; Mayor Jim Donchess of Nashua supports SB20, emphasizing the historical context of the state's promise to contribute to the pension system, which was a significant factor in municipalities joining the system. He highlighted that the majority of current contributions are used to address the system's unfunded liabilities, not current employee costs. He argued that the state's contribution would help ease the burden on property taxpayers, who face significant costs due to the pension system.

Gray, James(Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Innis, Daniel(V Chairman)(R)[B]2025	Carson, Sharon(R)[B]2025
Watters, David(D)[D-]2025	Birdsell, Regina(R)[B-]2025	Lang, Timothy(R)[B-]2025
Rosenwald, Cindy(D)[F]2025	Pearl, Howard (R)[B]2025