Testimony Regarding Education Tax Credits

Proposed legislation to create a tax credit for businesses that contribute to private scholarship funds would be costly for state officials to implement and would divert scarce public resources to private interests. In particular, state aid to public schools would likely be cut even though there is no evidence students receiving subsidies to attend non-public schools do any better than their public school peers. NHFPI Executive Director Jeff McLynch urged the House Ways and Means committee to oppose these tax credits aimed at helping students attending private, religious or home schools.

Tobacco Tax Cut Likely to Lose Millions in Revenue, Leave FY12-13 Budget Out of Balance

House and Senate lawmakers agreed to reduce the state’s cigarette tax by 10 cents per pack and lower taxes on other tobacco products as part of the two-year budget starting July 1. Based on the latest data available from state revenue officials, this is likely to reduce tax revenue by at least $14 million to $30 million. It now appears that budget negotiators failed to account for any such revenue loss, meaning that the budget for the coming biennium will likely end up out of balance.

Testimony on CACR 6 and Supermajority Requirements for Tax Increases

NHFPI Executive Director Jeff McLynch testified on May 11 before the Senate Internal Affairs Committee on a proposal to amend the state’s constitution to require a three-fifths supermajority vote of in the House and Senate to pass any tax or fee increase.

“In brief, CACR 6 would undermine sound fiscal policy. It would unduly constrain the flexibility New Hampshire needs to respond to changing economic circumstances and would likely lead to a great reliance upon temporary solutions to future budget shortfalls, more frequent legislative stalemates and higher borrowing costs,” he said.