New Hampshire

After Executive Council puts freeze on $100 million housing plan, initiative’s future uncertain – New Hampshire Bulletin

Published

3 years ago

April 26, 2022

After Executive Council puts freeze on 0 million housing plan, initiative’s future uncertain – New Hampshire Bulletin

The way forward for a proposal to inject $100 million in federal cash into New Hampshire’s housing rental market is unclear after the New Hampshire Govt Council tabled Gov. Chris Sununu’s plan.

In a 5-0 vote final Wednesday, the Govt Council voted to carry off on approving the plan, which Sununu has stated will probably be focused to “low and center revenue” rental housing models. Councilors have expressed considerations a couple of lack of concrete ensures that the cash will go towards inexpensive housing initiatives.

Now, Division of Enterprise and Financial Affairs Commissioner Taylor Caswell – whose division can be liable for overseeing the distribution of the funds – is in search of to beat that skepticism by offering extra particulars forward of the council’s subsequent assembly on Could 4.

However as Caswell and Sununu attempt to win over councilors, they’ve indicated they haven’t any want to alter the construction of this system to supply the ensures councilors requested, arguing the state wants flexibility to distribute awards effectively.

Sununu has stated concrete definitions of affordability should not useful for this system.

“We’re not going to create our personal pointers – distinctive pointers round what ‘center and low revenue’ is, understanding that these pointers are extra regionally pushed, relying on the financing, and relying on, once more, what the construction of that challenge may seem like,” Sununu stated at a press convention following the vote. “We’re doing all the things we will to not create synthetic guardrails that may exclude initiatives.”

Caswell agreed. “There isn’t any must ‘return to the drafting board’ or make any modifications to this system construction,” he stated in an announcement. “We are going to speed up the method of program design to make choices now on lots of the program particulars and talk that to the council previous to their subsequent assembly.”

A number of govt councilors stated they may not approve the funding with out extra restrictions in writing. Sununu administration officers say they’ll use the approaching weeks to flesh out their imaginative and prescient and clarify it to councilors – even when the underlying construction of the grant program doesn’t change.

“At nearly each assembly, businesses throughout state authorities carry packages to (the) Govt Council and ask for his or her approval to ‘settle for and expend’ a selected quantity of funding to make use of for a selected function,” Caswell stated in an announcement. “We search to supply them sufficient element to present their consent, however at times they’re simply searching for extra element. Yesterday was a type of cases, and we’ll search to get them what they should decide on this crucial workforce housing merchandise.”

The proposed program has been pitched by Sununu as a one-time increase to the state’s housing market, which has struggled with low ranges of housing inventory and more and more excessive costs. The plan would commit $60 million to matching grants for housing developments within the state and $40 million to grants to incentivize cities to hurry up allowing processes and overhaul zoning legal guidelines.

This system would enable builders or housing organizations to use for as much as $3 million in matched funding for initiatives, offered these initiatives can be used for rental housing and embrace a minimum of 5 models.

However a two-page rationalization of the plan launched by the division this month has come beneath criticism from some lawmakers for not together with revenue limits for the varieties of housing initiatives that it could fund.

These considerations first appeared on the April 15 Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee assembly, wherein Democratic Sen. Cindy Rosenwald questioned the division’s determination to deal with the federal restoration cash financing the challenge as “income substitute,” a designation that permits the state to make use of the cash with out essentially concentrating on it to low-income residents.

That committee authorised this system, 8-2. Some Democrats voted to approve this system at the same time as they urged Caswell and Sununu to concentrate on inexpensive housing.

However by the point the proposal arrived on the Govt Council on Wednesday for a remaining sign-off, the considerations over the dearth of specificity had unfold to each events.

“That is solely two pages on $100 million,” stated Councilor Dave Wheeler, a Milford Republican, addressing Caswell and Sununu. “And with all due respect, if it’s going to be inexpensive housing, earlier than we hand out $100 million of taxpayer cash we have to know the definition of inexpensive and what it’s going to be spent on.”

Councilor Cinde Warmington, a Harmony Democrat, agreed, arguing that “nothing in these paperwork would forestall this cash from going to market-rate housing or luxurious housing.”

Warmington’s feedback prompted a tense back-and-forth with Sununu.

“I’ve $100 million allotted to low- and middle-income housing,” Sununu stated. “If you happen to don’t need to vote for it, you don’t must.”

“You’ll be able to say what it’s, however then let’s … see it in writing,” Warmington replied. “Let’s put some eligibility necessities in right here.”

Neither Wheeler nor Warmington had been instantly accessible to remark Monday on the components that might change their votes.

Because the funding program sits in limbo, some are pointing to the delay as a chance. The state’s largest inexpensive housing group – Housing Motion NH – is embracing the tabling determination and advocating for state officers to make use of the extra time so as to add clear inexpensive housing targets into this system.

However Housing Motion NH remains to be hoping councilors approve some model of this system, stated Elissa Margolin, the group’s director. The chance the $100 million supplies for the state is simply too massive for the council to kill the complete proposal, Margolin added.

“I’d say, general, we’re fairly optimistic,” Margolin stated. “Now we have a checks-and-balances system, because the governor stated, and this is a chance for (the councilors) to get extra info, and that’s a part of the method. And we’re all about inexpensive housing. So we admire the chance to have this transient second of further advocacy, however we must always do that.”

And Margolin stated that whereas the group is advocating for inexpensive housing initiatives to be prioritized, flexibility will be useful to get sure housing initiatives accomplished. It permits for mixed-income housing initiatives – wherein inexpensive housing is included alongside market-rate housing – to maneuver forward, which will be simpler to get authorised. And it prevents some initiatives from being blocked by statewide caps tied to affordability metrics, she stated.

“Flexibility is nice for builders, too,” she stated. “And one of many causes it’s good is it permits our builders to reply to actual native and regional wants and native markets in order that they’ll transfer these shovel-ready initiatives forward.”

The important thing requirement for this system, Margolin says, is that the cash doesn’t go to luxurious condominium leases. At the moment, there are not any particular guardrails to stop that, although Sununu and Caswell have pledged to not use the funding for high-income rental housing initiatives.

“There’s no luxurious residences, there’s no condos, there’s no – that is all multifamily unit housing for low- and middle-income households,” Sununu stated.

Whether or not councilors do approve the plan will depend upon how detailed the brand new plan is – and whether or not it sufficiently meets their affordability considerations. The Fiscal Committee already authorised federal funds to assist the hiring of three new workers members within the Division of Enterprise and Financial Affairs to assist this system get began; Caswell stated these workers members will develop a extra detailed plan for this system.

Ought to the council approve the $100 million “settle for and expend” funding request, the Division of Enterprise and Financial Affairs would nonetheless must carry the particular initiatives it desires to fund again earlier than the council for a remaining approval, New Hampshire Legal professional Normal John Formella instructed councilors final week.

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New Hampshire

Ayotte uses inaugural speech to praise NH, offer warnings

Published

7 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Ayotte uses inaugural speech to praise NH, offer warnings

Gov. Kelly Ayotte used her first speech as New Hampshire’s 83rd chief executive Thursday to call for “common-sense cooperation” as the state tackles issues ranging from housing, to education, to the state budget.

In her roughly 45-minute long inaugural address, Ayotte simultaneously lauded New Hampshire as a model for the rest of the nation, but warned that pressing concerns — financial and otherwise — would require policymakers to make difficult decisions in the coming months.

You can watch Ayotte’s full inauguration speech here.

“I could not be more optimistic about our future, but at the same time we have real challenges that we have to take head on, if we want to keep our state moving in the right direction,” Ayotte told a crowd in the State House’s Representatives Hall that included current lawmakers and state officials, as well as several former governors, congressmen, and other political veterans.

“Whenever we talk about cuts, just like a family making hard decisions, there are things we can’t skimp on: protecting our most vulnerable and serving those most in need.”

Gov. Kelly Ayotte, forecasting upcoming state budget negotiations

Ayotte said she’s proud the state ranks high in categories including freedom, public safety, and taxpayer return on investment, but said slowing tax collections and the end of billions of dollars of federal aid dictates that the state “recalibrate” its spending.

“Whenever we talk about cuts, just like a family making hard decisions, there are things we can’t skimp on: protecting our most vulnerable and serving those most in need,” Ayotte said.

Ayotte’s speech was light on specifics — she called for few clear policy initiatives or spending cuts — but she did announce one new state initiative: a Commission on Government Efficiency, or COGE, to help identify ways to spend less state money. The committee will be led by former Gov. Craig Benson, who nominated Ayotte to be New Hampshire attorney general in 2004, and businessman Andrew Crews, a longtime political donor to Ayotte.

Ayotte told the Democratic leaders of the New Hampshire House and Senate that her door would always be open to them. She meanwhile asked GOP legislative leaders to “marshal our Republican majorities over the next two years to deliver on the promises we made to keep our state moving in the right direction.”

Ayotte called public safety her “absolute top priority” and said she expected Republicans to pass a ban this year on so-called sanctuary policies, which aim to protect undocumented immigrants from criminal penalties. She also said the state needs to further tighten its bail policies, and boost police retirement benefits to make it easier to recruit officers and keep them on the job.

She identified housing as another top issue and said the state needs to “get serious” by modeling good behavior to cities and towns, by enforcing a 60-day turnaround on state permits for new housing projects. She also promised to “strengthen new and existing partnerships” between the state, cities and towns and the private sector to get new housing units built.

Ayotte also highlighted education, and said while New Hampshire’s current rate of pupil spending was “wonderful,” lawmakers need to “keep it up” while simultaneously expanding the state’s voucher-like school choice program. Ayotte also promised to ensure students can learn and teachers can teach without distraction by banning cell phones in the classroom.

“Screens are negatively impacting our learning environments,” Ayotte said. “No more.”

On other issues, Ayotte promised to expand the state’s ranks of mental health providers, strengthen anti-suicide efforts, oppose a controversial landfill proposal in the town of Dalton, and veto any new abortion restrictions.

More digs at Massachusetts — but also a welcome

After framing her gubernatorial campaign last year as a rebuke of Massachusetts, Ayotte also used her inaugural address as another chance to take digs at the Granite State’s southern neighbor.

Ayotte criticized policymakers there for what she described as out-of-control spending, tax hikes, and lax immigration policies. But she did say New Hampshire welcomes Massachusetts residents as shoppers and visitors.

One of Ayotte’s biggest applause lines was addressed to Bay State business leaders.

“To the businesses of Massachusetts: We’d love to have you bring your talents to the Granite State,” she said. “We’re happy to show you why it’s better here.”

Ayotte extended a similar invitation to Canadian businesses, saying they would be especially welcome in New Hampshire’s North Country.

Lawmakers say they’re ready to get to work

Lawmakers past and present attended Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s inauguration.

Republicans in both legislative chambers will enjoy sizable majorities this session, and the party’s leaders say they’re ready to use those numbers to advance the policy goals Ayotte laid out Thursday.

House Majority Leader Jason Osborne praised the governor’s speech and said that along with the expansion of Education Freedom Accounts, his caucus will focus on “addressing issues of affordability across all sectors: housing, healthcare, electricity, you name it.”

He expressed optimism about Ayotte’s proposed COGE initiative to make government more efficient, but acknowledged that trimming the state budget could cause tension as lawmakers seek to protect their favorite programs.

“Everything we do is someone’s favorite pet project, so we’ve got to figure out who is going to get sent to the chopping block,” he said.

Osborne added that while his majorities are larger this session than last term’s near evenly split House makeup, he knows there will be disagreement within his own caucus.

“The more willing that we are to let people do their own thing, for things that are important to them, the more we’re going to be able to band together and get things done together, as well,” he said.

Sen. James Gray, a Republican from Rochester who leads the Senate Finance Committee, told reporters it was too early in the budgeting process to forecast where the state may trim to balance its books. He said he plans to work with Ayotte to advance her campaign promises.

With a 40-seat disadvantage, House Democrats will have little ability to set the legislative agenda this session, but Minority Leader Alexis Simpson of Exeter said she was grateful that Ayotte expressed a willingness to work across the aisle. She said Democrats would focus on ensuring any budget reductions don’t end up harming the state’s neediest residents.

“We feel these budget cuts at the state level will lead to higher costs at the local level, so we’re really working on making sure the vulnerable populations that Gov. Ayotte spoke about really are protected in this budget,” Simpson said.

Simpson also said she hoped for bipartisan collaboration on housing, mental health services and other issues.

Notable political faces fill the room

Gov. Chris Sununu attends the inauguration of his successor, Gov. Kelly Ayotte.

Thursday’s inauguration ceremony brought out a crowd of high profile political figures in the state, past and present.

Outgoing Gov. Chris Sununu received a sustained round of applause when he entered Representatives Hall, and was again thanked by Ayotte during her speech for his eight years of service to the state.

Others present included former Congressman Charlie Bass and Scott Brown, a former U.S. Senator representing Massachusetts and ambassador to New Zealand, who was also New Hampshire’s 2014 Republican U.S. Senate nominee. Also in attendance was former Gov. Maggie Hassan, who now serves in the U.S. Senate after unseating Ayotte in 2016.

Former Gov. Craig Benson was seated in the chamber, as was Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais, who entered the room to cheers.

Four of the five justices on the New Hampshire Supreme Court were in attendance, as were federal judges for the District of New Hampshire. New Hampshire Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald swore in Ayotte, while she was flanked by her husband and two children.

Members of the Executive Council were also sworn in during Thursday’s proceedings.

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New Hampshire

In inaugural speech as N.H. governor, Kelly Ayotte aims for unifying message – The Boston Globe

Published

15 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

In inaugural speech as N.H. governor, Kelly Ayotte aims for unifying message – The Boston Globe

New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte will deliver an inaugural speech Thursday in which she is expected to project a message of post-election unity.

Ayotte, a Republican, is expected to emphasize her desire to get to work for all Granite Staters regardless of party affiliation.

“You have my word that each and every day I will work on your behalf to do what’s best for all of us. For all of New Hampshire,” she’ll say, according to excerpts of her prepared remarks that her team shared with The Boston Globe.

Ayotte is expected to say New Hampshire needs to “get serious about housing production” in light of the current “crisis” around the constrained supply of homes. She’s expected to voice support for expanding the state’s Education Freedom Account program. And she’s planning to laud the budgetary approach state leaders have taken in recent years, including the elimination of the interest and dividends tax.

“New Hampshire is a wonderful, beautiful state,” she’ll say. “And protecting what makes us unique is so much more important than one person or one party. … I could not be more optimistic about our shared future.”

Inauguration Day ceremonies are slated to begin at 11:30 a.m., with a livestream available.
Do you know Kelly Ayotte’s background? Here are 10 facts, including a few you may have missed.
As she takes office, Ayotte’s allies and foes will be watching closely, including to see how her policy positions play out in these six areas.

The festivities around Ayotte taking office include a first inaugural ball on Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Omni Mt. Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, and a second inaugural ball on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Manchester. Tickets to both events are sold out, though a waitlist is available.

Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.

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New Hampshire

Why are the New Hampshire Ice Castles so blue?

Published

23 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Why are the New Hampshire Ice Castles so blue? – CBS Boston

Watch CBS News

The Ice Castles in North Woodstock, New Hampshire are set to open this weekend, inviting visitors to enter a world of frosty enchantment. WBZ-TV’s Jacob Wycoff reports.