The State of New Hampshire has budgeted almost all (98.8 percent) of the flexible federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act. While the State has budgeted these funds, data provided by the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery show that $433.7 million (43.6 percent) had been spent as of June 30, 2024 in the time since these funds first started being received in May 2021. Another $313.5 million (31.5 percent) had been obligated, but not yet spent, as of the end of June 2024; “obligated” indicates these funds are under contract, have been awarded to another entity, or are otherwise in a situation that requires payment. All funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024, and spent by December 31, 2026, to avoid being returned to the federal government. 

Funding for New Hampshire’s budgeted projects, particularly those funded by the $235.8 million (23.7 percent) that are not yet obligated or spent, may need to be reallocated before December 2024 to avoid the State being required to return these funds to the federal government. State officials have been engaged in an ongoing reallocation process. While these funds can be used relatively flexibly, the U.S. Treasury Department has encouraged states and local governments to use these funds to benefit long-term health and economic outcomes, and support people disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To learn more about the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds for New Hampshire, see NHFPI’s May 2024 blog: State Officials Face Reappropriation Decisions as Significant Flexible Federal Funds Require Action to Avoid Recoupment. To learn more about the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in New Hampshire, see NHFPI’s July 2024 blog: Local Governments Nearing Deadline to Obligate Federal Funds with Millions of Dollars at Risk.