That post got the attention of NHPR’s All Things Considered host Brady Carlson, so we sat down for a chat. If you missed our conversation yesterday afternoon–or would just like to check it out again–we’ve got the audio right after the jump. Continue Reading →
At least some of New Hampshire's declining lotto revenues can be blamed on competition from Massachusetts
Recently, we told you about a gas station in the border town of Methuen, Massachusetts. According to Massachusetts State Lottery Executive Director Paul Sternburg, it’s on track to do $13 million this year in lottery revenues. When we spoke with Ted’s Mobil owner Tony Amico, he estimated at least half his customers are from New Hampshire. And StateImpact’s unscientific survey of license plates in the gas station parking lot bore that number out.
Of course, all of this leads to the question, why would people from New Hampshire gamble in Massachusetts? After all, the lotto provides funding for the state’s education system. Why export those funds?
The short answer: Massachusetts has better prizes. And you win more. Continue Reading →
“The voting results won’t be in until January, but so far this presidential primary has been a bust for businesses in New Hampshire.
As of Sept. 30, the Republican candidates have spent a total of $4.6 million directly in New Hampshire — about 36 percent of the amount spent by candidates in 2008. Yes, there were races in both parties that year, with 13 major primary candidates, but this year there are 10 major GOP candidates — or eight, if you go by the deciders of debate participants. And that should mean at least more than half of the amount spent four years ago. Final spending figures won’t be available until after the primary.
In 2008, when all was said and done, candidates in both parties spent $21.1 million in the state. Republicans alone spent $12.1 million, but almost all of that is spent on consultants, fundraising and staff.” Continue Reading →
New England has a high proportion of people who are Baby Boomers and older. Some are already retired, others could retire sooner rather than later.
By comparison, the region doesn’t have a lot of young, working-age people.
Those young, working-age people aren’t having a lot of kids.
Young people with kids from outside the region aren’t moving here in great numbers, either.
The end result? As more people retire, there might not be enough of a labor pool to replace this workforce. And as demand for taxpayer-funded senior services increases over the decades, the region’s tax base might not be robust enough to take care of all this population’s needs and maintain other basic services, like schools, roads, etc. Continue Reading →
StateImpact's weekly roundup of the stories that intrigued, impressed, entertained, amused, or otherwise caught your attention
It’s that time of the week again! StateImpact’s tapping the collective wisdom of the crowd for our Friday afternoon roundup of our five most popular posts! As always, just click the title of the link to catch up on any water-cooler-worthy stories you might have missed.
How Big Banks (Some With NH Branches) Benefitted From Secret Fed Loan Program: Bloomberg published an amazing piece detailing a secret Fed loan program for banks that makes TARP look small-time. And while New Hampshire isn’t known as a beachhead for big banks, the state does claim some outposts for Bank of America and TD Bank. So we summed-up the juciest Bloomberg info and gave you the goods on how much those banks got. And it was far and away the biggest piece we posted this week. Continue Reading →
DOT Commissioner Chris Clement surveying storm damage
I recently spoke with newly confirmed commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, Christopher Clement, about the current budget constraints at the DOT and also his plan on how to finish the $800 million expansion of Interstate 93 without federal dollars. The project, which began in 2007, is an expansion of I-93 from a four-lane highway to an eight-lane highway. Supporters say the expansion will make it easier for commuters to go in and out of Massachusetts, as well as bring needed tourism dollars into New Hampshire’s North Country.
Q: What are some are greatest challenges currently with funding at the DOT?
A: In the last biennium, we had about $124 million cut from our $568 million budget. There was about $90 million cut from a registration surcharge that went away. That’s about $45 million less per year. We at the Department of Transportation eliminated 68 positions or about 19 percent of our workforce. We’re working on our 10-year transportation plan. Our 10-year plan is predicated the majority on federal funding. We heard when I first came on board that all states had to plan on a 35 percent cut from the feds. We cut that $140 million plan down to $100 million plan. That made our 10-year plan much more thin than in years past. Those projects that don’t meet the $100 million on the 10-year plan go on a deferred list.
What's got NH businesses worried? We've charted out the info!
This week, we posted Six Surprising Takeaways from the 2012 NH Business Outlook Survey. (You can read that story here.)
One of the things we noted was how concerns that hadn’t really qualified as “major” last year were suddenly a big deal for businesses this year, and vice-versa. The high cost of energy, for example, reappeared in the 2012 Outlook Survey after a two year absence. Meanwhile, foreign competition dropped off this year’s list of top 10 concerns. And those aren’t the only big changes in businesses’ worries from last year to now.
We found this information so interesting that we just couldn’t resist the urge to create a nifty chart based on the survey information.* Continue Reading →
Right-To-Work legislation has been controversial in New Hampshire
While overriding Governor Lynch’s veto of Right-to-Work failed yesterday, Kevin Landrigan of TheLobbyNH.com reports the fallout continues today:
“Four members of House Speaker William O’Brien’s extended leadership team will be sacked for their opposition to Right-to-Work legislation, TheLobbyNh.com has learned.
House Fish and Game Commission Chairman Gary Hopper, R-Weare, has already turned in his letter of resignation from running the panel.
House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt, R-Salem, is also expected to ask for resignations from three assistant majority whips who also opposed O’Brien’s desire to override Lynch’s veto of the anti-union bill, HB 474. Continue Reading →
The road back from the recession for some towns in New Hampshire could be slowed due to deep budget cuts affecting highway expansion and bridge maintenance.
The state Department of Transportation is grappling with budget cuts of $30 million in motor vehicle fees and a likely $40 million cut in federal highway funds each year.
“Our $140 million 10-year plan is now a $100 million plan,” says Transportation Commissioner Christopher Clement. “The document is a lot slimmer than it was five years ago.”
What that means is that some parts of the $800 million Interstate 93 expansion may be delayed. Clement says the state will not be able to address as many “red list” bridges which call for renovation or replacement. And for many towns throughout the state, the budget cuts mean their road projects have been put on hold indefinitely.
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