Governor’s Budget Expands Public Safety Funding

Scott Davidson / Flickr Creative Commons

Like many services with state funding, law enforcement took some hits in the last budget

Calling public safety “our most important responsibility,” Governor Maggie Hassan outlined her funding proposals in today’s budget address. Comparing public safety to the state’s health care system, Hassan said it had taken “too many hits” in the last budget.  She called on legislators to “reverse course” immediately, in the interest of keeping New Hampshire residents safe.

“Over the last few years, we have taken 30 state troopers off of our roads and out of our communities.  People in our most rural areas should not have to wait for more than an hour for the nearest state trooper to arrive,” Hassan said.

The governor pledged funding to return 15 state troopers to the New Hampshire’s roads.  She said the state would add $500,000 a year in drug task force money to replace some federal funding cuts.  Hassan called for restoring funding to the judiciary, allowing for two more superior court judges.  And saying women prisoners were “woefully neglected,” she pledged funds to build a new women’s prison.

Hassan also promised $200,000 a year in search and rescue funding for the Department of Fish and Game.