Concord faced a $2.8 million reduction in state education funding, leading to significant staff cuts and a 12.2% property tax hike. House and Senate leaders blame local governments for this increase, framing it as a local overspending issue. Their narrative serves as a political strategy ahead of upcoming elections while shifting responsibility from state funding decisions.
Concord, New Hampshire, faced a budget crisis leading to job cuts and a 12.2% property tax hike, exacerbated by decreased state aid due to rising home values. A proposed constitutional amendment (CACR 12) aims to lock in the state’s heavy reliance on property taxes, hindering potential reforms like new income taxes, despite growing fiscal challenges.
The Laconia Village project, aiming to build 2,000 housing units on contaminated land, faces a September 25, 2026 deadline amid New Hampshire’s housing crisis. Governor Kelly Ayotte’s elimination of $35 million in housing support complicates the development’s viability, highlighting a generational neglect of affordable housing amid rising costs for essential workers.
On Tax Day, Kelly Ayotte criticized a nonexistent income tax proposal while advocating for a constitutional amendment (CACR 12) to permanently ban any such tax in New Hampshire. Critics argue this move disregards the real financial burdens caused by property taxes, exacerbated by past business tax cuts, locking future generations into a faulty revenue system.
The article critiques New Hampshire’s response to Matthew Snyder’s drug-related arrest, emphasizing the state’s failure to address homelessness and addiction. It highlights systemic issues, including the high costs of incarceration versus investing in treatment and housing. The author argues that this approach perpetuates cycles of addiction and poverty, rather than providing solutions.
The article discusses recent developments in New Hampshire’s education funding laws, focusing on two key bills: HB 1815, which narrows the state’s funding obligations and has already been signed into law, and HB 1121, which specifies resources the state must fund but is likely to be shelved. These measures reflect a shift in responsibility from the state to local taxpayers, potentially exacerbating funding disparities across districts.
This editorial by Dexter Dow analyzes a concerning pattern of public insults and attacks by Donald Trump against women journalists over a month. Dow argues this behavior is not isolated but reflects a decade-long strategy of humiliation that influences political interactions at all levels. The piece challenges Granite Staters to recognize this method and consider the implications for local governance.
The “Insult Ledger” compiled by Granite State Report catalogs Donald Trump’s public insults over a decade, highlighting his method of using humiliation as governance. It documents attacks on various targets, emphasizing the cumulative impact of his rhetoric, which has a chilling effect on scrutiny and dehumanizes groups, shaping policy outcomes.
The New Hampshire legislature faced criticism as Republican representatives focused on controversial issues, including anti-Sharia resolutions and targeting Chinese nationals, rather than pressing economic concerns. Numerous proposed bills failed, reflecting a pattern of performative politics that distracted from constituents’ real challenges like rising housing costs and dwindling resources.
The Office That Almost Didn’t Exist | Granite State Report Granite State Report Granite State Report Civic Journalism for New Hampshire Opinion Dexter Dow · granitestatereport.com Accountability • Child Welfare The Office That Almost Didn’t Exist New Hampshire created its Office of the Child Advocate after two toddlers died in…
Same Walls. Same Failures. | Granite State Report Granite State Report Granite State Report Civic Journalism for New Hampshire Opinion Dexter Dow · granitestatereport.com Accountability • Youth Detention Same Walls. Same Failures. A child’s bone was broken in an illegal restraint at the Sununu Youth Services Center. Fifteen kids were…
The article by Dexter Dow highlights systemic failures in New Hampshire’s support systems following the fentanyl-related death of his daughter’s mother. It depicts the bureaucratic indifference towards issues such as mental illness and poverty, emphasizing insufficient state assistance. Dow argues for policy reforms to better support grieving families and to promote dignity for the vulnerable.
New Hampshire expressed interest in nuclear reactors without committing to waste management or related infrastructure, creating a selective approach to the nuclear lifecycle. While requesting a reactor, the state showed low interest in essential support functions required by the federal government, reflecting its desire for benefits without the associated costs of nuclear waste handling.
New Hampshire’s mental health laws create a stark disparity between treatment for substance abuse and psychiatric crises. While DUI offenders are mandated treatment, individuals facing severe mental health issues receive no similar support until they pose imminent danger. This structural neglect reflects a moral failure in the state’s legal framework, leaving families helpless.
Broken Bones, Shackles, and Silence — Granite State Report Granite State Report Independent New Hampshire Journalism Investigation · April 13, 2026 Broken Bones, Shackles, and Silence: New Hampshire Still Can’t Protect Its Children More than 1,100 survivors. Millions in settlements. The largest youth detention abuse scandal in American history. And…
America Just Blockaded a Waterway That Feeds the World — Granite State Report Granite State Report Independent New Hampshire Journalism Breaking Analysis · April 13, 2026 America Just Blockaded a Waterway That Feeds the World. We Should Be Writing Apology Letters. The U.S. Navy began enforcing a blockade of Iran’s…
New Hampshire faces a severe housing affordability crisis, highlighted by a median home price of $530,000, significantly outpacing wage growth. Governor Ayotte’s cuts to housing programs have exacerbated the situation, contributing to generational exclusion and workforce shortages. The housing market remains distorted, with many unable to afford homes where they work.
The New Hampshire Senate race centers on child care costs as candidates address its affordability crisis, with rising gas prices largely ignored. While child care remains a critical issue, voters face urgent cost increases due to the Iran conflict and related inflation. The disconnect may impact the election outcome significantly.
New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte is advocating for advanced nuclear reactors at Seabrook but rejects the associated nuclear waste management, highlighting a discrepancy in state demand and responsibility. This raises concerns about the implications of nuclear energy expansion without a waste storage solution, echoing historical failures and local opposition to nuclear waste facilities.
In April 2026, journalist Dexter Dow reached out to Northfield legislators Greg Hill, James Thibault, and Howard Pearl for their positions on four significant bills, including a controversial student ID ban and a citizenship verification mandate. None responded. Their votes are now public, with ongoing legal challenges expected for these laws.
Jeanne Shaheen’s retirement has sparked a competitive New Hampshire Senate race, featuring Democratic Congressman Chris Pappas and Republican contenders John E. Sununu and Scott Brown. With control of the Senate potentially hinging on this contest, Pappas holds advantages in fundraising and polling, while Republican dynamics remain complex due to differing Trump allegiances.
New Hampshire’s Medicaid work requirements exceed federal standards by 25% and exclude a crucial caregiver exemption. As a result, between 14,000 and 29,000 residents risk losing coverage. The state faces significant policy decisions that will impact vulnerable residents reliant on Medicaid for health care and support, particularly caregivers.
New Hampshire faces high drunk driving test refusals, with 75% refusal rates noted. Governor Ayotte supports Senate Bill 620, aiming to increase penalties for DUI test refusals. Critics argue the bill may disrupt lives without solving issues, advocating for more effective enforcement methods instead of punitive measures that don’t ensure public safety or due process.
How decades of hostility, a brutal crackdown on Iranian protesters, failed nuclear talks, and a calculated gamble by Washington and Jerusalem plunged the Middle East into its most consequential conflict since the Iraq War — and why New Hampshire families are already feeling the fallout at the gas pump, in…
The “3-3 Tax Savings Plan” was supposed to start a conversation about crushing property taxes and broken school funding. Instead, it triggered a death threat from the state Libertarian Party, a rushed constitutional amendment that collapsed on the House floor, and exposed the political fault lines that could define the…
Senate Bill 467 aims to impose a seven-year mandatory minimum sentence on fentanyl dealers whose products lead to fatalities, following a party-line vote in New Hampshire’s Senate. While supporters view it as a crucial deterrent against drug trafficking, critics fear it may inadvertently punish low-level users and strain correctional resources.
Senate Bill 626, advancing in New Hampshire, aims to restrict public records access to state residents, citing concerns over AI-driven data requests. Critics argue this narrows transparency and accountability, potentially excluding out-of-state journalists and organizations. Supporters claim it’s necessary for local governance, framing it as protection rather than restriction.