NH House Leaders Statement on Education Funding Plan

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) and House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem) offered the following statements after the passage of HB 337, a bill by David Hess (R-Hooksett) that provides a state education funding formula that ensures that no community sees a change into its education funding from the current fiscal year.  The bill passed by a vote of 247 to 86.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“This bill will make sure that no community sees the type of radical shift in school funding that we would see under the current formula.  By keeping our communities whole, this will provide certainty to our local governments, and we will keep our promise not to downshift state costs to the property taxpayers.  Additionally, this legislation would allow the state a better opportunity to target aid to poor cities and towns that truly need help.  Rep. Hess has done a great job in crafting a law that goes hand-in-hand with CACR 12, the constitutional amendment, passed by the House yesterday, to restore local control back to our schools.”

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

“As a co-sponsor of this legislation, I’m pleased to see it move forward.  This replaces the Democrats’ failed funding formula and gives us the chance to target education aid, so that we can begin to move away from divisive spreadsheet politics and the constant race to the courthouse.  This is a durable solution that makes sure that towns are helm harmless and ensures that we do not go back to donor towns