State and Local Funding Structures for Public Services in New Hampshire
Presented by Phil Sletten, New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute Research Director to The Center for Advancing Rural Health Equity at Dartmouth Health on January 30, 2026.
Revenue & Tax
Revenue is essential to funding the priorities of the state and supporting vital public services. State and local revenue in New Hampshire stems primarily from taxes, and each resident, visitor, and employer has a vital role in generating the resources required to maintain essential systems and meet the needs of Granite Staters.
Property taxes are the primary revenue source for local governments, while the largest tax revenue sources for the State are taxes on business profits and compensation, restaurant meals and hotel room rentals, tobacco sales, real estate transactions, insurance premiums, motor fuels, and other economic activity. State revenue also comes from sales by State-operated enterprises selling liquor and lottery tickets.
NHFPI seeks to improve public understanding of New Hampshire’s revenue system, its role in financing state expenditures, and the impact it has on families and individuals at different income levels.
Who really pays for business tax cuts in New Hampshire? – New Hampshire Bulletin
First published in New Hampshire Bulletin, January 27, 2026. Earlier this month, the New Hampshire House passed what looks like a tiny change: a 0.05 percentage point cut to the Business Enterprise Tax. But this small number masks big consequences. Based on our research, the proposal would drain tens of millions of dollars from the ...
Business Enterprise Tax Rate Decreases Have Lowered Revenue with Limited Economic Benefit
NHFPI Research Director Phil Sletten examined the fiscal and economic effects of the proposed Business Enterprise Tax reduction from 0.55% to 0.50%. His analysis found that this proposal would reduce New Hampshire's state revenue by $26 million per year, while providing tax savings too small for most businesses to expand hiring.
Study: Proposed Business Enterprise Tax Cut Would Reduce New Hampshire State Revenue by $26 Million Per Year
NHFPI Research Director Phil Sletten examined the fiscal and economic effects of the proposed Business Enterprise Tax reduction from 0.55% to 0.50%. The analysis found that this proposal would reduce New Hampshire's state revenue by $26 million per year, while providing tax savings too small for most businesses to expand hiring.
Webinar: Examining New Hampshire’s Business Enterprise Tax
Join NHFPI Research Director Phil Sletten and Executive Director Gene Martin on Monday, February 2nd at 11:00 a.m. ET for a data-driven discussion of New Hampshire’s Business Enterprise Tax (BET).
December State Revenues Benefit from One-Time Tax Amnesty Program
December revenue collections delivered a mixed picture: the State collected $339.1 million for the General Fund and Education Trust Fund, which was $42.1 million more than planned. However, nearly all of that surplus came from $45.8 million in temporary tax amnesty revenue, while other sources underperformed, signaling potential weakness in underlying revenue trends.