CONCORD – House Republican Leader Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett) today issued the following statement following reports that state agency heads have submitted budget requests for fiscal years 2016-17 totaling over $12.5 billion, roughly $1.9 billion or 18% more than the current operating budget.
House Republican Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett)
“One way to show leadership in an executive role is to ensure your department heads know how to live within their means. In the context of state government, this means showing taxpayers that your team of appointees respects, cherishes, and will be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
“What we have here shows our state government’s inability to be mindful of the sensitive state our economy continues to be in. While our economy remains stagnant, state agencies are looking for a raise. Over the summer we heard Governor Hassan voice her concerns over state tax revenue, and ask agencies to pare back spending. Yet, in the blink of an eye, those same agencies are coming back with explosive growth in their spending proposals. It seems disingenuous.”
“I ask the Governor to order her agencies to produce level-funded budget requests or at least something in the realm of reasonableness. This is no time for agencies to submit their biggest wish list to Santa. We have a solemn duty to manage taxpayer dollars in a respectful manner. To ask for anything more than level funding or modest increases at this time shows disregard for the taxpayers of New Hampshire. The Governor needs to get an handle on this now.”