NH House Testimony

HB1355

House · 2026 sessionRepublicanInterim study

Default budget elimination for towns

AI

Eliminates the inclusion of a default budget on official ballot referenda for towns using that meeting format and changes the procedure that applies if the operating budget warrant article fails.

relative to eliminating the default budget from the official ballot referenda.

MunicipalitiesTaxes - LocalElections

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · May 5, 2026
  1. Introduced
  2. House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Division of testimony

144 submissions
Support 1Oppose 143Neutral 0
Joanne ScobieOpposeWest Lebanon, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

This is just a call to provide less money for education. I do not support it.

Sarah YoungOpposeHANOVER, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

Please oppose this bill as it could defund public services and public education.

Karen ChaseOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

This is yet another attempt to cut public services by eliminating the default budget as a backup in the case that a proposed budget fails at an annual school district meeting.

Shirley MontgomeryOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

I oppose this bill because I think it will further cut funds for public services if it eliminates the default budget.

Mary CadwalladerOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

Why, why are we dismantling a system that works for the people.

Robert DrysdaleOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

Having the default budget as a fallback eliminates the time an expense of an extra meeting and vote.

Nancy MilesOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

I'm opposed to eliminating the default budget as a back=up when the proposed budget fails to pass at an annual school district meeting.

Barbara CallawayOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

We must not endanger school funding anymore than it already has been.

Donna TullyOpposeLittleton, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

Clean up the process of WHO has the power to employ a state’s National Guard. National Guard employment should NEVER be as a federal force into another city or state. This is NOT an executive power of the president. Oppose the president’s authority of ordering our state’s National Guard and I would change my opposition. Until that happens, I oppose this bill.

Bridget DetollenaereOpposeNorth Hampton, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

Eliminating default budgets is another grab at imposing budget caps. If voters don’t vote for an increased budget, then the default budget is used and the town or school district will have to figure out how to live with that budget. If the default budget is eliminated, this will cost town’s more money because they will have to have a deliberative session to make budget cuts.

Rose RussoOpposeNashua, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

Relative to eliminating the default budget from the official ballot referenda. This will handcuff local school budgets unfairly.

sharon eatonOpposepembroke, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

As a local school board member, approving a budget that is fiscally responsible and respects the will of the tax payers is the most difficult part of this role. Such a bill will remove the town, school and board's ability to negotiate through budget adjustments and approvals while providing no positive impact on the process.

Jeanne LudtOpposeAmherst, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

A very dangerous attempt to defund public services and public education. There will be major protests should a local entity's budget fail and no money is allotted as a back up to continue providing services. This is nuts!!!

Nichole FICKENOpposePembroke, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

I oppose HB 1355 because it is yet another attempt to cut public services by eliminating the default budget as a backup in the case that a proposed budget fails at an annual school district meeting. Under this proposal, if the proposed budget fails, it would require a special meeting that could ultimately result in a 10% reduction to a school or town budget. My town experienced a similar reduction in it's budget three years ago and we lost many fantastic programs and educators because our state does not adequately fund education. This is just another attempt to defund public services and public education and this is detrimental to our students.

Dawn FrostOpposeCanaan, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

It is clear that those proposing this bill have absolutely no idea how local governments and schools actually operate. Default budgets provide a safety net so schools and local governments can operate and provide the services they are obligated to provide. Removing default budgets can lead up to a 10% budget cut. For schools, a 10% budget cut eliminates teachers, which can open local districts to special education lawsuits because they are unable to provide services they are legally obligated to provide. This state should follow legal decisions and actually pay school districts money they are owed -- THIS would lesson the burden on local tax payers. I strongly oppose bill 1355.

Molly McCrumOpposeConcord, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

If all of these EFAs and bills aimed at defunding public education, there will be nothing left of it. Please do not regulate local governments any further.

Morgan BakerOpposeKeene, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

We cannot allow the default budgets to be eliminated. This would totally destroy the entire process for properly funding education in new hampshire. It would also irrevocably damage the public education system. Destroying public education will ultimately undermine new hampshire, and ruin this state.

Judith McChesneyOpposeBRIDGEWATER, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

I oppose this bill because it would eliminate the default budget and cut the education budget by 10%. This is just another attempt to defend public schools.

Patricia HamiltonOpposeEpsom, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

Under this proposal, if the proposed budget fails, it would require a special meeting that could ultimately result in a 10% reduction to a school or town budget. This is just another attempt to defund public services and public education.

Laura WhiteOpposeChesterfield, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

I am a long-serving NH public school teacher. HB 1355 is yet another attempt to cut public services by eliminating the default budget as a backup in the case that a proposed budget fails at an annual school district meeting. If this were to pass,, it could ultimately result in a 10% reduction to a school or town budget. This is just another attempt to defund public services and public education. Let's put our children first. Reject this bill.

William ThomasOpposeManchester, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

Oppose!

Mark HatfieldOpposeLee, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

I oppose defunding public services and education

Thomas CiglarOpposeKeene, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

How can the majority leadership in Concord continue to allow attacks on local control while still hiding behind their hollow claims of support? Mandating how local government will manage a failed budget vote would seem to be a claim that the state legislature has some control over local funding matters. Claiming control would be dangerously close to claiming responsibility, and thus, the majority leadership of the state legislature might have to actually take responsibility for their refusal to support a reasonable system of taxation that supports adequate public services for every citizen of NH.

Christine HeathOpposeWEARE, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

I oppose this bill. This is another attempt to cap budgets and take away control of local citizens and local elected officials. Every year we have voting and elections, meetings throughout the year and in my town Public Hearings and Deliberative Sessions. This allows taxpayers to decide who they want representing them and how they want their money spent. A default budget is how a town or school makes sure that what has to be paid for, by law or need, is. No matter which budget is passed, there are always payments that need to be made. This would be devastating to towns and I feel irresponsible for state legislators to support.

Lynn McRaeOpposeLyme, NHfor MyselfJan 23, 2026

Good morning, Oppose HB 1355. It's just another attempt to defund public services and public education. HB 1355 is yet another attempt to cut public services by eliminating the default budget as a backup in the case that a proposed budget fails at an annual school district meeting. Under this proposal, if the proposed budget fails, it would require a special meeting that could ultimately result in a 10% reduction to a school or town budget. Let local town gov'ts deal with their town and school budgets as best as they, themselves, see fit. I wouldn't dream of imposing MY view of what's best is your household budget; don't stick your nose into my budget or assume you know what's best for my town. Oppose HB 1355. Lynn McRae, RN, BS Ed., MALS Lyme