The New Hampshire House will be considering a $16 billion state budget proposal this week that does not include any new state taxes. The budget plan, presented by top Republican budget writers, focuses on increasing government fees in order to generate about $60 million in new revenue over the next two years.
While the plan does not involve raising taxes, it does increase fees across the board, from vanity license plates to burials in the state veterans cemetery. Supporters argue that these fee hikes are necessary to ensure that the user pays for the services they want, rather than burdening everyone else. However, some lawmakers believe that the fee increases are excessive, with some fees more than doubling.
Despite potential criticism, the budget writers emphasize that New Hampshire is one of the lowest cost states in the country and that is why people choose to move there. The key architect of the budget urges colleagues to consider this as they evaluate their support for the proposal.
Some examples of the fee increases included in the budget plan are the cost of registering cars, trucks, motorcycles, and mopeds, as well as fees for driver’s licenses, lawsuits, fishing licenses, elevator inspections, and more. The proposal also includes significant increases in fees for things like veteran’s burial services, dam registration, and pesticide application permits.
The budget plan takes a bet on expanded gambling as a way to boost state revenues, but concerns remain about the impact of the fee increases on residents. Lawmakers will be reviewing the proposal in the coming days to determine whether it will become law.
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