New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies: Topics | Press | Calendar

NHCPPS seeks summer intern

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Doug Hall Memorial Internship, Summer 2012 The New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, located in downtown Concord, NH, is currently seeking applications for the Doug Hall Memorial Internship for Summer 2012. The intern will work closely with Center staff on research projects that cover a wide range of policy topics that impact New Hampshire, such as education, environmental resources, infrastructure and the economy. The Center offers interns the opportunity for a flexible schedule and a stipend for their work. The ideal candidate will be an undergraduate entering his or her senior year, a recent graduate, or a graduate student. Majors in public policy, health policy, sociology, economics, education, or related fields are encouraged to apply. We're looking for someone with strong research, analysis and writing skills. Experience with MS Office applications and coursework with statistics is highly desirable. Interested candidates should send a resume, a cover letter expressing research interests, transcripts (unofficial accepted), and one writing sample that demonstrates clear communication and analytical thinking skills. Application deadline is April 16, 2012. Please email application materials to: Daniel Barrick Deputy Director dbarrick@nhpolicy.org

Financing New Hampshires Cities and Towns: Update 2012 : Local Government Data Book

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

New Hampshire is moving into Town Meeting season, when local budgets will be debated and decided upon by citizens. The NH Center for Public Policy Studies provides an updated analysis of the financing of local government operations from a statewide perspective. The report (available here) also provides examples of the data the Center has collected on each city and town in the state. In addition, the interactive map below displays differences in basic municipal financing information, including a comparison to statewide averages for each city and town. (Click on a city or town for detailed info.) For even more detailed town-by-town information, see the datasets at: New Hampshire Town Historic Spending and Revenue; 2001, 2007, and 2010 and Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns: Dataset 2005-2010 Please let us know what you think of this year's report and maps, and email info@nhpolicy.org with any suggestions. 2011 Property Tax Rates by Municipality Map Colors show 2011 Property Tax Rates for each municipality in New Hampshire. 0 to $14 per $1,000 valuation | $14 to $20 per $1,000 valuation | $20 to $25 per $1,000 valuation | $25 to $40 per $1,000 valuation

New Hampshire Town Historic Spending and Revenue; 2001, 2007, 2010 : Local Government Data Book

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

New Hampshire Town Finance Detail, 2001, 2007 and 2010 : Behind the Numbers Excel Spreadsheet and Dataset [This detailed look at town finances for the years 2001 2007, and 2010 was developed for the 2012 Town Meeting season. For each town we show municipal appropriations by major category (general government, police, fire, highways, local schools, etc.) and major sources of revenue, including property taxes, licensing fees and receipts, and state and Federal contributions to the municipality. We have included a column showing appropriations and revenue per person, adjusted for inflation.]

Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns: Dataset 2005-2010 : Local Government Data Book

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns: A Data Book Excel Spreadsheet and Dataset [Contains Property Tax Detail Data for Every New Hampshire Municipality for the period 2005 to 2010, update to Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns, A Data Book]

Leadership Seacoast retreat: Understanding Boundaries : What is New Hampshire?

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Center Director Steve Norton's presentation to Leadership Seacoast, Jan. 4, 2012, about regional differences in the NH Seacoast.

Understanding Community: A Presentation to Kendal at Hanover : What is New Hampshire?

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Center Director Steve Norton's presentation on Upper Valley demographic trends, to Kendal at Hanover on Jan. 18, 2012

Crime in New Hampshire, 2011 : Adult Corrections

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

New Hampshire has not published a comprehensive annual crime statistics report since the one released by the New Hampshire Department of Safety in 1993. The Center is publishing this report to assist policymakers and the public in examining recent trends in criminal activity in New Hampshire.

Policy Note: An Update on Expanded Gambling : State Budget

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

This paper is an update to the Center's May 2010 report, "Analyzing the Impact of Expanded Gambling on New Hampshire." Our goal here is to provide insight into the potential implications for New Hampshire of new casinos in Massachusetts, partly in response to a request from the House subcommittee that reviewed gambling legislation. We have updated our model to reflect financial changes – inflation, reductions in lottery revenues, and other factors – as well as developments in New England's gambling landscape over the past two years. Most specifically, recently passed legislation in Massachusetts allows for three casinos and a slot machine parlor. Our models continue to suggest that expanded gambling in New Hampshire would bring a net economic benefit to the state – in terms of economic development and state revenues – even with new casinos in Massachusetts and after offsetting costs associated with pathological gambling. However, our model does not account for the potential negative effects of expanded gambling on New Hampshire's "brand" and attractiveness as a destination for tourists and others nor does it consider the question of the proliferation of gambling activities or any political concerns associated with a single industry or organization playing such a large role in financing the state's activities.

Manufacturing in New Hampshire 2011 : Jobs & Economy

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Dennis Delay's Presentation for the 2011 series of manufacturing plant tours hosted by the Business and Industry Association

New Hampshire Economic Outlook November 2011 : Jobs & Economy

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

During the Great Recession, New Hampshire fared better than many other states and the country as a whole, but we are still skating on thin ice. The forecast still calls for New Hampshire to grow faster than the regional average, but tenuous current conditions threaten the outlook. Unless the economy gains significant momentum in the next six months, the forecast could be comprised. The local economy seems in danger of stalling, when it should be skating faster!

Assessing Community Development : Jobs & Economy

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Assessing Community Development New Hampshire's Community Development Block Grant Program The New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) engaged the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies to evaluate the current status of the New Hampshire State Administered Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and provide feedback for short- and long-term program planning.

Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance, 2nd quarter of 2011 : Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Using 2001 as its benchmark of 100.0, in the second quarter of 2011, the Center's "Index of the Population Lacking Health Insurance" registered 106.9, compared to the index value of 105.3 in the first quarter of 2011.

NH's Silver Tsunami: Aging and the Health care system : Healthcare Finance

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Aging in New Hampshire Presentation - with audio New Hampshire's aging population will play a major role in shaping health care spending in coming decades. By the year 2020, the state's shift towards an older population will reach a peak. And by 2030, nearly half a million Granite Staters will be over the age of 65 – a so-called "silver tsunami," representing almost one-third of the population. Health care use varies by age and gender, and as New Hampshire's demographics shift, the health care demands of the state's population will reflect those changes. This analysis by the Center is an attempt to understand this phenomenon and help policymakers, businesses and health-care providers plan for its implications. At the heart of this analysis is a projection of health care spending by the major payers (Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance) that can be attributed solely to the aging of the state population. We also explore how an older population may impact the state's workforce and the state budget. An aging population will likely place new financial pressures on Medicaid, a shift that will have a big impact on future state budgets.Many other areas of state government will also be affected by New Hampshire's aging population and its impact on health care, including the Department of Corrections and the Department of Administrative Services.

Gambling in NH: Sept. 2011 Update : State Budget

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Presentation by Center Director Steve Norton to House subcommittee on HB593, Sept. 27, 2011.

A Regional Approach to Public Policy : What is New Hampshire?

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton's presentation to the Nashua Regional Planning Commission on regional policy analysis, demographics, and the New Hampshire and federal budget situation.

What is New Hampshire? 2011 Edition and Maps : What is New Hampshire?

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Welcome to the 2011 edition of "What is New Hampshire?", the Center's annual compilation of graphs and data on the people, strengths and challenges of the state. Click the above link to find a PDF version of the complete report. For this year's edition, we've added a new selection of interactive maps, below, which illustrate much of the data upon which the full report is based. The first three maps show population density for every New Hampshire city and town, with figures from the 2010, 1990 and 1960 Censuses. By sliding between the maps, you see the gradual increase in population -- and how it differs across the state -- over that period. Click on any town to get demographic info for that community (median income, median age, poverty rate, etc.) We've included the statewide figures in each window, too. Finally, the last map illustrates the median age of each New Hampshire community. Take note of the regional variations. How might those differences shape policy discussions across the state? Please let us know what you think of this year's report and maps, and email info@nhpolicy.org with any suggestions. 2010 Population Density by Municipality Map Colors show 2010 Population Density for each municipality in New Hampshire. 0 to 100 People per square mile| 100 to 500 People per square mile| 500 to 1,000 People per square mile| 1,000 to 3,000 People per square mile 1990 Population Density by Municipality 0 to 100 People per square mile| 100 to 500 People per square mile| 500 to 1,000 People per square mile| 1,000 to 3,000 People per square mile 1960 Population Density by Municipality 0 to 100 People per square mile| 100 to 500 People per square mile| 500 to 1,000 People per square mile| 1,000 to 3,000 People per square mile NH Population Median Age by Town, 2010 The most recent Census numbers help paint a more detailed portrait of New Hampshire's demographic patterns. In this map, the darker the shade of the community, the older the median age of its residents. (The statewide median age was 41.1 years in 2010, up from 37.1 in 2000.) We see here that New Hampshire can essentially be divided into two regions when it comes to age: an older northern half, and a younger southern half. But even in the "younger" half, there is a further subdivision, with the eastern region – between Interstate 93 and the Seacoast -- significantly younger than the western portion. Age 20 to 41| Age 41 to 44| Age 44 to 48| Age 48 to 62| No Data

Mapping the Aging Maze : Healthcare

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

A presentation by Steve Norton, executive director of the NH Center for Public Policy Studies, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock's "Mapping the Aging Maze" conference, August 25, 2011.

NH Association of School Board Administrators : State Budget

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Presentation to the NHASBO 2011 Summer Institute on July 29th.

New Hampshire's Pension Reform: Tallying the bottom line : State Budget

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In adopting a menu of reforms to New Hampshire's Retirement System (NHRS) last month, lawmakers had one essential goal: reduce the state's pension costs without increasing costs for local communities. Compared to the status quo, the reforms will lower overall pension costs for public employers as a whole. But the impact will vary considerably across state, county and local government. Recent lawsuits challenging aspects of the reform package make it difficult to gauge the precise impact. But under every likely scenario analyzed by the Center, the new reforms will yield year-over-year savings for the state, while local governments – the towns, cities and school districts who pay into the retirement system – will see higher pension costs, year over year.

Understanding the Impact of Recent Changes to NH's DSH Program : Healthcare Finance

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

As a coalition of New Hampshire hospitals go to court to challenge recent changes to the state's Medicaid program, here's an overview of the potential financial implications of those changes, produced by the Center at the end of the budget-writing cycle in June.

The New State Budget: Looking back, looking forward : State Budget

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

As with every budget conversation, the debate over the 2012-13 budget highlighted innumerable details of how New Hampshire raises and spends money. But to get a firm grasp of this budget, it may help to focus on two overarching questions: How different is this budget from past spending plans? And what impact will its largest policy changes have over the next two years?

Presentation to Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce: What is NH? : What is New Hampshire?

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Putting Census data to work in your town : What is New Hampshire?

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Dennis Delay's presentation to the June 11, 2011 New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning conference.

Health Care 101 - 2011 : Healthcare in NH

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Center has developed this updated snapshot to provide general background on U.S. healthcare spending, with detail for New Hampshire where available. It shows how much we spend, what services the funds are spent on, and how much of the spending comes directly from consumers.

The 2012-13 State Budget Proposals: An Overview : State Budget

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Negotiators with the House and Senate begin meeting this week to bridge their differences in the 2012-13 state budget. While the two bodies' proposals are similar in bottom-line figures, there are significant changes in certain areas of state expenditures and revenues.

New Hampshire Economic Outlook May 2011 : Jobs & Economy

Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

New Hampshire's job recovery has been postponed by one year, but New Hampshire's job growth will continue to outperform the region this year and next.

Counting on the Future: New Hampshire's State Revenue Estimates : State Budget

Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Not surprisingly, when economic situations are in flux, the methods the state uses to estimate revenues are less accurate. The Center presents a further examination of New Hampshire state revenues, from several angles.

Census 2010: Mapping New Hampshire : What is New Hampshire?

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

New figures released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau add context to our understanding of the demographic forces shaping New Hampshire. The following maps, prepared by Center staff, illustrate a handful of those data points to get a better grasp of how New Hampshire is changing. The illustrations are intended to provoke ideas, raise questions and inspire further conversations about the policy challenges and opportunities facing the state in the coming years.

Presentation to Senate Ways & Means, 4/12/11 : State Budget

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Dennis Delay, the Center's economist, testifies before the Senate Ways and Means Committee on revenue projections for the 2012-13 state budget.

The House Budget Proposal: An Overview : State Budget

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

With the full House expected to vote on the FY2012-13 budget proposal tomorrow, the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies has prepared this summary of the spending plan. We've broken down the House budget by state agency and include the Governor's budget proposal and spending levels in the current two-year budget for comparison.

The House Budget Proposal: The Spreadsheets : State Budget

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Here's a spreadsheet, compiled by the Center based on information in HB1, analyzing the House's budget proposal compared with Governor Lynch's proposal and the current biennial spending plan.

Census 2010: NH's shifting landscape (Slideshow) : What is New Hampshire?

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Data released earlier this week by the U.S. Census Bureau paints an interesting portrait of the population changes that shaped New Hampshire over the past decade. The following maps, prepared by Center staff, illustrate a handful of those data points. They don't necessarily answer any questions about New Hampshire's future. But they do raise questions about the policy pressures, challenges and opportunities facing the state in the coming years.

Census 2010: NH's shifting landscape (PDF) : What is New Hampshire?

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Census 2010: NH numbers : What is New Hampshire?

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

This spreadsheet tallies, town by town, changes since 2000 in NH's total population, school-age population, number of housing units and Hispanic population.

Center seeks summer internship candidates : What is New Hampshire?

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Doug Hall Memorial Internship, Summer 2011 The New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, located in downtown Concord, NH, is currently seeking applications for the Doug Hall Memorial Internship for Summer 2011. The intern will work closely with Center staff on research projects that cover a wide range of policy topics affecting New Hampshire, such as education, environmental resources, infrastructure and the economy. The Center offers interns the opportunity for a flexible schedule and a stipend for their work. The ideal candidate will be an undergraduate entering his or her senior year, a recent graduate, or a graduate student. Majors in public policy, health policy, sociology, economics, education, or related fields are encouraged to apply. Experience with MS Office applications and coursework with statistics is highly desirable. Interested candidates should send a resume, a cover letter expressing research interests, transcripts (unofficial accepted), and one writing sample that demonstrates clear communication and analytical thinking skills. Application deadline is April 29, 2011. Please email application materials to: Daniel Barrick, Deputy Director dbarrick@nhpolicy.org

Patterns of growth : What is New Hampshire?

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

A brief overview of New Hampshire's shifting population, 1950-2010.

Smart Manufacturing and High Technology : Jobs & Economy

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Smart Manufacturing and High Technology New Hampshire's Leading Economic Sector The Smart Manufacturing/High Technology (SMHT) sector, which includes all of New Hampshire's approximately 2,100 manufacturing companies as well as more than 1,600 high technology companies, is the engine of the state's economy.

The Disparate Impacts of Local Aid Cuts, March 2011 : State Budget

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Our first in a planned series of papers through the 2012-2013 budget-writing cycle in which the Center will analyze the potential impact of "downshifting" in various forms.

Health System Cost-Shifting in New Hampshire : Healthcare Finance

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The Center examines the health industry practice known as "cost-shifting"–charging certain patient populations more than the actual cost of their care so as to cover the cost of providing treatment to uninsured patients or Medicare and Medicaid patients whose expenses are not completely covered by the government.

Budget Analysis at NHCNP 2-22-11 : State Budget

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Steve Norton joined HHS Commissioner Nick Toumpas and Jim Monahan at the NH Center for Non-Profits Policy Cabinet on the state budget.

Governor's Budget at 30,000 Feet : State Budget

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

This Policy Note provides an initial assessment of the Governor's budget proposal, introduced on February 15th.

Financing New Hampshires Cities and Towns: Update 2011 : Local Government Data Book

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Until now there was no easily accessible data that would allow an analysis of municipal expenditures or the financing of the municipal services these expenditures represent. This report – and the associated data on the Center's website – are designed to fill that gap Datasets at: New Hampshire Town Historic Spending and Revenue; 2001-2009 and Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns: Dataset 2004-2009

Back at the Table Again: Spending and Revenues in 2012-2013 : State Budget

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Calling a $500 million a "likely starting point" the NH Center for Public Policy Studies presents further scenarios – improved revenue collection due to a pick-up in the economy and a likely 5% cut in spending – in which the hole NH budget writers will have to fill shrinks to $132 million.

Under Construction: Improving New Hampshire's School Building Aid Program : School Finance

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Building a new school is a hefty financial undertaking, especially for small districts that lack large tax bases. For more than half a century, New Hampshire has helped local school districts pay for new construction through the School Building Aid program. But in recent years, the program's cost has increased at a rate far exceeding the rest of the state budget, raising concerns about how to maintain this service to local school districts. Requests from districts will exceed $50 million a year in the coming biennium, up from $25 million in FY2003. In this report, the Center provides a brief history of New Hampshire's School Building Aid program, a review of its policy goals, an examination of how it has doled out money to school districts in recent years, and suggestions for policy reforms.

Jan 2011 SBA Presentation : School Finance

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Under Construction: Improving New Hampshire's School Building Aid Program New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies January 2010 Powerpoint Presentation

2011; The New Year in numbers. : What is New Hampshire?

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

There are plenty of ways to think about how New Hampshire's economy will fare in the coming year. To help provide some fodder for that discussion, the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies has gathered these five charts -- each of them a snapshot of where the state stands today, and an indication of what to keep an eye on in 2011.

New Hampshire in Recovery : State Budget

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Dennis Delay's January 7,2011 presentation to the JOINT HOUSE-SENATE ECONOMIC BRIEFING for WAYS AND MEANS and FINANCE.

Manufacturing in New Hampshire 2010 : Jobs & Economy

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Dennis Delay's Presentation for the 2010 series of manufacturing plant tours hosted by the Business and Industry Association

Aging, Change and Volunteers : Healthcare in NH

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Steve Norton's December 9, 2010 Presentation to the AARP sponsored Service Solution Forum

2010 Online Survery Results : Information that Matters

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Results of the 2010 NHCPPS online survey

Vesta Roy Excellence in Public Service Series, November 18, 2010 : What is New Hampshire?

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Steve Norton's presentation at the Vesta Roy Excellence in Public Service Series, November 18, 2010:

2010 Community Transportation Summit, November 18, 2010 : What is New Hampshire?

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Steve Norton's presentation at the 2010 Community Transportation Summit, November 18, 2010

New Hampshire Economic Outlook November 2010 : Jobs & Economy

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

After the Great Recession (December 2007 to June 2009), New Hampshire is half way back to regaining all of the jobs lost in the downturn. The Granite State lost 4.5% of its jobs at the lowest point of the recession, and has gained more than half of those lost jobs back. As of September 2010 the New Hampshire jobs base was 2% below the previous peak of December 2007

NEEP Presentation for 11/17/10 : Jobs & Economy

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Presentation slides for the New Hampshire Economic Outlook - New England Economic Partnership Conference November 17, 2010

North Hampton Budget Presentation (11/1/2010) : Local Government

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton's presentation on the state of the state to local school and municipal officers of North Hampton, NH on November 1st, 2010

State of the State (Lebanon Rotary 10/28/2010) : State Budget

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton's presentation on the state of the state to the Lebanon Rotary 10/28/2010

NH, the State Budget and Structural Deficits : State Budget

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The Center's October 6, 2010 presentation to the Granite State Fair Tax Coalition Panel Members

State Spending in A National Context : State Budget

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton's presentation to the New Hampshire GOP "Stop the Spending" summit.

What is New Hampshire? 2010 Edition : What is New Hampshire?

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The question "What is New Hampshire?" has never been more timely than it is right now. Every state across the country has experienced significant economic change, and with it has come serious impacts on the status quo. The face of New Hampshire is changing considerably, the implications of which are not well understood. Whether looking at demographics, the underlying state economy, the state budget, or politics and place, New Hampshire is a state in flux. Critical policy questions are raised by these changes.

New Hampshire Town Historic Spending and Revenue; 2001-2009 : Local Government Data Book

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

New Hampshire Town Finance Detail, 2001 to 2009 : Behind the Numbers Excel Spreadsheet and Dataset [This detailed look at town finances for the years 2001 and 2009 was developed in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio for the 2011 Town Meeting season. For each town we show municipal appropriations by major category (general government, police, fire, highways, local schools, etc.) and major sources of revenue, including property taxes, licensing fees and receipts, and state and Federal contributions to the municipality. We have included a column showing appropriations and revenue per person, adjusted for inflation.]

Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns: Dataset 2004-2009 : Local Government Data Book

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns: A Data Book Excel Spreadsheet and Dataset [Contains Data for Every New Hampshire Municipality for the period 2004 to 2009, update to Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns, A Data Book]

August 2010 on NH Public Radio : State Budget

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Listen to Steve Norton on The Exchange speaking to Education Finance (http://www.nhpr.org/node/33529) , and on the State Budget.(http://www.nhpr.org/node/33534)

2011 State Budget Issues : State Budget

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Dennis Delay's presentation before the July 30, 2010 meeting of the New Hampshire Association of School Business Officials

Payment for Alcohol and Other Drug Related Services by New Hampshires Medicaid Program : Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400

This work was commissioned by New Futures to explore the available data of alcohol and other drug related services paid for through the state's Medicaid program. This report establishes a baseline of information so that policymakers and other stakeholders can understand the scope of services accessed by the Medicaid population with AOD issues. This understanding can help policymakers and advocates develop cost-effective strategies for services to treat these chronic and life-threatening conditions.

Stumbling Towards the Light : State Budget

Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Dennis Delay's May 21, 2010 presentation to the New Hampshire Municipal Officers on the economy and the state budget.

New Hampshire's Economic Outlook - May 2010 : Jobs & Economy

Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

After the Great Recession, New Hampshire is "stumbling towards the light" but still at a faster pace than either the regional or national average. New Hampshire's job base declined by about 4.5%, but has recovered somewhat – as of March 2010 New Hampshire has 3% fewer jobs than in December 2007.

Analyzing the Impact of Expanded Gambling on New Hampshire : State Budget

Thu, 20 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

In the summer of 2009, Governor John Lynch established the New Hampshire Gaming Study Commission. The Commission was tasked with undertaking a "thorough and comprehensive review of various models for expanded gaming" in New Hampshire. The Commission retained the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies to conduct technical research and analysis for its review. Our first report, A Brief Report on Gambling in New Hampshire, was published in December, 2009. In this second report, the Center documents the development of a series of inter-related models that analyze the impacts of expanded gambling in New Hampshire. The Commission requested that we develop a model that supports a "prudent calculation" of the costs and benefits of expanded gambling. Any models were to be based on an understanding of the variation in geography, size and type of expansion, and its impact on state revenues, substitution, economic development, crime, and any offsetting expenditures associated with the social or behavioral implications of expanded gambling. Our models are based on balanced assumptions about the amount of capital investment, the size and type of facility, facility location, population and income levels, and the potential action of other states (i.e. Massachusetts) to produce a series of estimates of the revenues to the state, economic development implications, and the financial costs of social impacts associated with gambling.

What's Driving the Seacoast Now? : Presentations

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

New Hampshire Forum on the Future breakfast presentation by Steve Norton To Register: http://www.certain.com/system/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x9060166066
Location: Great Bay Community College
Email: snorton@nhpolicy.org

Correcting Longtime Myths about New Hampshire : What is New Hampshire?

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton's April 11, 2010 appearance on WMUR's "New Hampshire's Business" in which he talks about 5 myths of NH. Here are the set of powerpoint slides used in that segment. Link at: http://bit.ly/aURVli

Evaluating Corrections Reentry Programs : Adult Corrections

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Evaluating Corrections Reentry Programs - The Hillsborough County Reentry Program As part of this evaluation the Center, in consultation with the Council of State Governments Justice Center, developed a database and data collection instrument for the Reentry Program. The partners believe that this data collection instrument can not only assist in the evaluation of the Reentry Program, but also serve as a resource applicable to evaluate other community corrections and reentry programs. As such, this database approach developed by the Center and the Justice Center should serve as a model for future reentry programs administered by the Department of Corrections and other criminal justice agencies in New Hampshire.

2010 and Beyond: New Hampshire, the State Budget and Childrens Policy : State Budget

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton's presentation on the state budget and children's policy. March 19, 2010.

Mental Health in New Hampshire : Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Ryan Tappin's presentation on Mental Health in New Hampshire to the Alexander Eastman Foundation, March 10, 2010.

What is NH? : Presentations

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Stephen A. Norton, executive director of the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, will give a talk titled 'What is New Hampshire?' based on a report recently released highlighting the Center's research and additional demographic and economic data on New Hampshire. The event will be held in the New Hampshire Institute of Politics auditorium. It is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Center for the Study of New Hampshire Politics and Civic Life. New Hampshire Institute of Politics Saint Anselm College 100 Saint Anselm Drive Manchester, NH 03102 Carolyn Hammer Communications Specialist (603) 222-4115 chammer@anselm.edu
Location: NH Institute of Politics - St. Anselm College
Contact: Carolyn Hammer
Email: chammer@anselm.edu

New Hampshire Town Historic Spending and Revenue; 2001-2008 : Local Government Data Book

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

New Hampshire Town Finance Detail, 2001 to 2008 : Behind the Numbers Excel Spreadsheet and Dataset [This detailed look at town finances for the years 2001 and 2008 was developed in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio for the 2010 Town Meeting website. For each town we show municipal appropriations by major category (general government, police, fire, highways, local schools, etc.) and major sources of revenue, including property taxes, licensing fees and receipts, and state and Federal contributions to the municipality. We have included a column showing appropriations and revenue per person, adjusted for inflation.]

Dental Services and Workforce in New Hampshire : Healthcare in NH

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

This paper provides an overview of the currently available data on access to dental services and the availability of dental providers across the state. This report will also review, to the extent possible, the implications of workforce on those with Medicaid coverage and the uninsured and will raise questions regarding whether the current dental workforce providing care for this population is sufficient to meet the state's needs.

The Continuing Budget Conversation : State Budget

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Our earlier presentation on the state budget and spending. Steve Norton's presentation to the House Finance, Public Works and Highways, and Ways and Means Committees. January 12, 2010.

A Brief Report on Gambling in New Hampshire : State Budget

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

In summer of 2009, Governor John Lynch established the New Hampshire Gaming Study Commission. The Gaming Study Commission was tasked with undertaking a "thorough and comprehensive review of various models for expanded gaming" in New Hampshire. This analysis was to include an assessment of the current status of gambling in New Hampshire, a review of various models of expanded gambling, and a review of the revenue generation capacity, community impacts (including social and economic implications), and regulatory needs of such a change.

Sharing the Common Burden: New Hampshire and Public Services : State Budget

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

This paper combines information on appropriations and revenues at the four levels of government in New Hampshire – state, county, town and local education – and is designed to give a comprehensive picture of public services in the state, a profile of where the burden of funding these services lies, and how it is changing over time.

Looking Toward the Next Budget Conversation : State Budget

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Presentation by Steve Norton to the New Hampshire Business and Industry Association Economic Development Committee on December 9, 2009.

New Hampshire's Economic Outlook; November 2009 : Jobs & Economy

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

While it's likely the recession is technically over, for many it doesn't feel that way and won't until unemployment stops climbing and job growth returns. And that is at least a year away.

Organizing for Outcomes : Reclaiming Futures

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The national evaluation report of the Reclaiming Futures iniative. The Center was the evaluator for the New Hampshire RF project. This report summarizes the evaluation reports from all projects nationwide, including New Hampshire's experience. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's (RWJF) Reclaiming Futures initiative was designed to increase positive outcomes for youth involved with drugs, alcohol and crime by shifting the efforts of the juvenile justice system and the substance abuse treatment system to incorporate strategies that are more community oriented, family focused, and closely coordinated. The Foundation launched Reclaiming Futures by awarding project grants to ten communities in 2002. In four of these communities, researchers tracked the efforts of local Reclaiming Futures projects as they worked to improve the effectiveness of interventions for young offenders. The four communities included Santa Cruz County in California, Cook County (Chicago) in Illinois, a multiple-jurisdiction project in the state of New Hampshire, and King County (Seattle), Washington. The four local evaluation projects assessed the influence of Reclaiming Futures on the actual experiences of youth involved in the juvenile justice and substance abuse treatment systems. The studies examined whether youth received substance abuse screening and assessment more often and more quickly after the implementation of Reclaiming Futures. They asked whether youth participated more frequently in treatment programs and received more support services as a result of Reclaiming Futures. Finally, they examined case processing and case referral patterns to determine whether Reclaiming Futures was associated with changes in youth behavior, as measured by recidivism, or the prevalence of new contacts with law enforcement and the courts.

Watching the World Change : What is New Hampshire?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton's presentation to the New Hampshire Coalition on Aging's Annual Meeting. October 29, 2009

Summit on Spending 10-27-09 : State Budget

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

New Hampshire State Spending in A National Context; Summit on Spending; 10/27/2009

Revenue Structure Informational Session 10-21-09 : State Budget

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Dennis Delay's 10-21-09 presentation to the House Ways and Means Committee at their two days of meetings about state tax policy.

Mental Health and Schools Conference : Presentations

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Registration Fee: $75 *Includes continental breakfast, lunch, and materials. *Limited scholarship opportunities for family members are available. Please contact Claudia Ferber at 603.225.5359 ext. 13 for more information. *Registration Deadline: September 28, 2009 *This workshop qualifies for Staff Development Credits. Location: Southern NH University, Walker Auditorium, 2500 N. River Road, Manchester, NH 03106 REGISTER NOW Download Brochure Questions? Call 603.228.2084 or email contact.iod@unh.edu Description This single day conference is designed to provide participants with innovative models of supporting student with mental health disorders in their classrooms. This event's content, which includes the current state of mental health services in New Hampshire's schools, is driven by key elements of the Mental Health Services in New Hampshire's Schools Report, published in April 2009. This conference will include a keynote presentation, workshops, an interactive breakout session, and select clips of the film Including Samuel. Who Should Attend: Educators, paraeducators, social workers, guidance counselors, family members, community mental health staff, school administrators, special education faculty, and other interested parties. Agenda: 8:30 - 9:00: Registration and Continental Breakfast 9:00 - 9:10: Welcome: Claudia J. Ferber, Director, Child and Family Programs, NAMI NH, and JoAnne Malloy, MSW, Project Director, Institute on Disability 9:10 - 9:20: Opening Remarks: Virginia M. Barry, Ph.D., Commissioner, NH Department of Education 9:20 - 10:20: Keynote Presentation: "Mental Health Services in New Hampshire's Schools," presented by Stephen A. Norton, Executive Director, New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies 10:20 - 10:30: Break 10:30 - 11:30: Panel Presentation: "Effective Programs Being Used in New Hampshire Schools" Panelists: PBIS - Sharon Lampros, Principal Somersworth High School RENEW - JoAnne Malloy, MSW, Project Director, and Jonathon Drake, MSW, Institute on Disability Mental Health and Schools Together New Hampshire (MAST NH) - Howard Muscott, Ed.D., Director, New Hampshire Center for Effective Behavioral Interventions and Supports (NH CEBIS) Family Engagement - Michelle Lewis, M.Ed, Parent Information Center 11:30 - 12:30: Workshops (see below for descriptions) 12:30 - 1:15: Lunch, Select clips of the film Including Samuel and Q&A with Dan Habib, Ann & Emily Huff 1:15 - 2:15: Workgroup Session (A facilitated discussion by the NH Children's Mental Health Community of Practice with key questions related to mental health in the schools. The participant's responses will be used to further state initiatives that will support students with emotional and behavioral disorders.) 2:15 - 2:55: Workgroup Report Out 2:55 - 3:00: Closing Remarks, Evaluation, and Adjourn Workshop Descriptions: PBIS at All Three Tiers: Does it Really Make a Difference? - Sharon Lampros This session will describe how PBIS has been implemented at all three tiers in Somersworth High School, with an emphasis on the systems features: the development and guidelines for teams, the data development and analysis, and the implementation of universal, targeted and tertiary level interventions. The speakers will also talk about outcomes, lessons learned, and where they will go from here. This session is for high school administrators, teachers, researchers and community members. Expanding Parent Involvement in Children's Education - Michelle Lewis, M.Ed. This workshop provides a blueprint for promoting parent involvement practices which can lead to increased student success and well-being. Parents and educators will strategize the first steps in the development of comprehensive and effective parent/school/community partnerships. Participants will: Learn a researched-based framework of parent involvement. Gain knowledge of ways to actively engage all families. Acquire strategies to overcome identified barriers to parent involvement in children?s education. RENEW: Person-centered Planning and Supports for Youth with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders - JoAnne Malloy, MSW, and Jonathon Drake, MSW This session will focus on how the RENEW model has been implemented in several settings, including in schools and by community mental health centers. The features of the model will be described, and one or two youth who have gone through the process will describe their experiences. Supporting Children with Mental Health Needs in Schools: Lessons Learned from Mental Health and Schools Together New Hampshire Collaborations - Howard S. Muscott, Ed.D. This workshop will provide participants with school-based and collaborative strategies for building systems and practices that support youth with mental health needs. Participants will learn how schools involved in the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports-NH and the Mental Health and Schools Together-NH initiatives have built solutions that work to improve outcomes for youth and their families. Strategies including building tiered support, systematic screening, function-based support, facilitated referrals to community mental health supports and wraparound teams will be highlighted. Participants will be able to: Identify school-based and collaborative strategies for building systems and practices that support youth with mental health needs. Identify expected outcomes resulting from implementation of the highlighted evidence-based practices. Create an action plan to investigate or implement one of the highlighted evidence-based practices. Social Work CEUs have been requested. Please call 603.228.2084 for more information. In Partnership With Institute on Disability NH Department of Education The National Alliance on Mental Illness NH (NAMI NH) Graduate Program in Community Mental Health, Southern NH University Keynote Presenter: Stephen A. Norton, NH Center for Public Policy Studies Steve Norton is the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, a private non-profit think-tank providing an unbiased source of fact-based information helping define major policy issues and offering innovative approaches to support resolution of those issues. The Center focuses on a variety of topics including state revenues and expenditures, corrections policy, health care finance, education quality and finance, data access and quality, local government finance, and data access and quality. Prior to his current work, Steve focused much of his career on studying and managing the provision of social services. Between 1998 and 2005, Steve worked for the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services in a variety of capacities, including as director of the State?s Medicaid program from 2003-2005. From 1990 to 1998, Steve worked as a Research Associate at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C., where he conducted health services research and published extensively on a variety of topics. Keynote Presentation Description: Steve Norton will be presenting on a study produced by the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies in April 2009, which provided the first comprehensive assessment of the mental health services system provided by NH schools. The research, which combined school and school district surveys and interviews with community mental health centers statewide, analyzes how the system is administered and funded, the mental health conditions driving the system, the services it provides and how the system evaluates child mental health outcomes. Learning Objectives: Enhance the Community's understanding of the degree to which NH schools are a part of the broad mental health service system the types of services and outcomes associated with the school based mental health system how the system evaluates child mental health outcomes
Location: Southern NH University

What is New Hampshire? 2009 Edition : What is New Hampshire?

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Measuring the Health of the Healthcare System: New Hampshire's Healthcare Dashboard 2009 : Healthcare in NH

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The 2009 update to our popular healthcare policy tool, challenging the perception that NH is one of the healthiest states in the nation.

Healthcare 101 - 2009 : Healthcare in NH

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The Center has developed this snapshot to provide general background on U.S. healthcare spending, with detail for New Hampshire where available. It shows how much we spend, what services the funds are spent on, and how much of the spending comes directly from consumers.

And How Much Will the Budget Grow? It Depends. : State Budget

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The Center provides a June 2009 update to the current budget situation, regarding the Committee of Conference Budget.

NH Academy of Finance Graduation : General

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Presentation to NH Academy of Finance Business Protocol Seminar Dennis Delay is the keynote speaker at the NH Academy of Finance graduation.
Location: Rivier College
Email: ddelay@nhpolicy.org

The Use of One-Time Monies To Balance the State Budget : State Budget

Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The Center provides a May 2009 update to the current budget situation, prior to the Senate developing its budget

New Hampshire's Economic Outlook - May 2009 : Jobs & Economy

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

A past president of the Mortgage Bankers and Brokers Association of New Hampshire said in early May 2007 that New Hampshire was in for a "Nantucket Sleigh Ride" with hundreds more sub-prime borrowers losing their homes through the course of this year and into next year. That prediction has turned out to be all too true.

New England Economic Partnership Spring Conference : Presentations

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Dennis Delay presents information on current conditions and the outlook for New Hampshire. The conference theme is "Can We Afford the Future? The Fiscal and Economic Outlook for New England "
Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Auditorium
Email: ddelay@nhpolicy.org

Panel on Taxes in NH : Presentations

Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Dennis Delay serves on a panel and presents nonpartisan, educational information on NH's tax structure at Granite State Fair Tax Coalition Forum
Email: ddelay@nhpolicy.org

Current Conditions & Outlook : Presentations

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

YMCA New England workshop Dennis Delay presents information on current conditions and the outlook for Northern New England, with a focus on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Location: Foundation for Seacoast Health
Email: ddelay@nhpolicy.org

Current Conditions & Outlook : Presentations

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Dennis Delay presents information on current conditions and the outlook for Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, with a focus on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Location: Spruce Point Inn
Email: ddelay@nhpolicy.org

Graph of the Month - May 2009 : What is New Hampshire?

Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Parole Violators sent to State Prison by zipcode 2004 to 2008

Graph of the Month - April 2009 : What is New Hampshire?

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

New Hampshire's former industrial centers suffer more if they lose Fixed Revenue Sharing aid, than they would if they lost the Meals and Rooms distribution.

Strafford County Drug Treatment Court: Final Performance Evaluation : Strafford County Drug Treatment Court

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Thisis the final evaluation report of Strafford County's Drug Treatment Court program. This report discusses the program's admission and referral process, court supervision, and treatment services received by offenders as well as discusses factor influencing program success. These performance reviews do not provide a complete assessment of drug court, but are intended to provide feedback to people working in the drug court program, counties currently planning or considering a drug court, and members of the broader public with an interest in alternative sentencing programs in New Hampshire.

Public Health and the State Budget, 1999-2009 : State Budget

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

This report is one in a series of analyses performed by the Center of state budget activities that describes how the state appropriates financial resources, and how the state's priorities – as measured by state appropriations – have changed over time. This analysis focuses on one aspect of the state's policy activities: public health. Public health functions cover a vast array of services that include both direct services designed to increase specific population's health and more general programs designed to improve the health of the entire population.

Mental Health Services in New Hampshires Schools : Children's Mental Health in New Hampshire

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

As the Center has noted previously, as many as 55,756 children, ages 5 – 19 have a diagnosable mental health disorder and almost 14,000 have a serious emotional disturbance.Most of these children are educated in the New Hampshire public school system. Understanding if, and how, public schools manage the behavioral health issues of their students is of obvious public policy significance. Despite this policy significance, comprehensive information about the role of schools in mental health services in New Hampshire is not available. This work – combining surveys of both school districts and schools and interviews with community mental health centers across the state – is designed to be an initial assessment of how this system is administered and funded, the mental health conditions driving this system, the services that it provides, and the manner in which the system assesses its progress in ensuring the mental well being of its children.

New Hampshires Latest School Funding Formula : School Finance

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

In October 2008, the Supreme Court ruled that in enacting SB 539 (2008) the State has met the mandate to define an adequate education. This report explores the evolution of this legislation and provides and comparative analysis to the pervious school funding formula. SB 539 in its entirety would increase state aid to schools; larger communities are the primary beneficiaries. The total estimated state cost in FY2010 will amount to approximately $941 million, $50 million more than the state's commitment in FY2009. In aggregate, the result of this plan is an average state grant of $2,943 per pupil to cover the cost of an adequate education. This represents an increase of 11% over the average per pupil grant under the previous school funding formula for fiscal year 2009 of $2,650. Compared to current state-wide average cost per pupil – $11,416 – the per pupil state grant under the SB 539 plan plus the statewide education property tax (SWEPT) contribution will cover less than half that cost, at $4,793 per pupil, on average. Although this represents an increase in the state support over the previous school funding formula, local communities will maintain their significant role in funding local schools.

Graph of the Month - March 2009 : What is New Hampshire?

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Is New Hampshire a victim of its own success?

Medicaid Procedure Fees in New Hampshire : Healthcare Finance

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The Medicaid program in New Hampshire provides services to a variety of different resident populations – including lower income children and pregnant women, the elderly, and the physically and mentally disabled. Many different providers serve these Medicaid enrolled individuals, including hospitals, home health care organizations, nursing homes and physicians, among others. And these providers supply a wide array of services. In this analysis, we assess how Medicaid pays for medical, surgical, and diagnostic services by all different types of providers excluding hospital inpatient, nursing home and other institutional services. We compare Medicaid service fees to two baselines: fees paid by Medicare – the primary insurer of those over 65 and the disabled – and private payers in New Hampshire – including Anthem, Cigna and Harvard Pilgrim, among other insurers doing business in New Hampshire.

Prison Projections 2008: The Once and Future New Hampshire Corrections Population : Adult Corrections

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The number of inmates in the New Hampshire state prison system increased 560% in twenty-five years, from 394 inmates in 1982 to 2,615 in 2007. Factors commonly associated with increases in a state's prison population fail to explain the extraordinary rise in the number of New Hampshire state prison inmates. New Hampshire's resident population, number of people living in poverty, and number of violent crimes have not increased as fast as the number of inmates held in New Hampshire's state prisons. In fact, while the number of state prison inmates increased almost six times from 1982 to 2007, the number of property crimes and the number of arrests for all crimes in New Hampshire actually declined.

Corrections in New Hampshire, 2009 : Adult Corrections

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Presentation by Steve Norton to the Interagency Coordinating Council for Women Offenders, March 16, 2009.

Most Local Appropriations in New Hampshire are Raised Under SB2 : SB2

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

SB2 Dominates Local Spending in New Hampshire (2007) From the February 2009 Graph of the Month

Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns: Dataset 2002-2007 : Local Government Data Book

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns: A Data Book Excel Spreadsheet and Dataset [Contains Data for Every New Hampshire Municipality for the period 2002 to 2007, update to Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns, A Data Book]

New Hampshire Town Finance Detail, 2001 to 2007 : Local Government Data Book

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

New Hampshire Town Finance Detail, 2001 to 2007 : Behind the Numbers Excel Spreadsheet and Dataset [This detailed look at town finances for the years 2001 and 2007 was developed in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio for the 2009 Town Meeting website. For each town we show municipal appropriations by major category (general government, police, fire, highways, local schools, etc.) and major sources of revenue, including property taxes, licensing fees and receipts, and state and Federal contributions to the municipality. We have included a column showing appropriations and revenue per person, adjusted for inflation.]

NH Towns by Type of Governance 2007 : SB2

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

New Hampshire Governance by Town - 2007 From the April 2008 Graph of the Month

Graph of the Month - February 2009 : What is New Hampshire?

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

SB2 Dominates Local Spending in New Hampshire (2007)

State Budget 2010-2011 for the NH Association of Counties : State Budget

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Steve Norton's presentation on the State Budget to the New Hampshire Association of Counties, February 6, 2009.

State Budget 2010-2011 at Eggs and Things : State Budget

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Steve Norton's presentation on the State Budget at Eggs and Things in North Conway on February 5, 2009

The NH State Budget Conversation - Laconia Rotary : State Budget

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Steve Norton's presentation on the State Budget to the Laconia Rotary. February 5, 2009

Measuring the Health of the Healthcare System: New Hampshire's Healthcare Dashboard 2008 : Healthcare in NH

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The 2008 update to our popular healthcare policy tool, challenging the perception that NH is one of the healthiest states in the nation.

U.S., New England and New Hampshire economies : Jobs & Economy

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Information about the U.S., New England and New Hampshire economies, presented on January 21, 2009 to a joint session of the House Finance and Ways and Means committees.

The State Budget 2010-2011 - Presentation to the New Hampshire Senate : State Budget

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Presentation about the state budget to the New Hampshire Senate by Steve Norton.

Graph of the Month - December 2008 : What is New Hampshire?

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Economic Distress Across New Hampshire Comparing initial claims for unemployment compensation to the labor force in each area provides one measure of the level of economic distress in a region and how it is changing.

New Hampshire's Economic Outlook - November 2008 : Jobs & Economy

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The economic forecast from one year ago expected that the underlying strength of the economy would carry New Hampshire through the year 2008 without a recession. But we anticipated a very bumpy ride. And that certainly turned out to be true.

Legislative Tour of Manufacturing Plants & Economic Overview : Presentations

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Dennis Delay will offer an Economic Overview at this tour which is one in a series of manufacturing plant tours hosted by the Business & Industry Association and the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development. These events are designed to familiarize legislators with the important role that manufacturing plays in the New Hampshire economy. Legislators will have the opportunity to discuss economic issues with some of our state's top employers and receive current information on the state and national economy from recognized economists.
Location: Amphenol TCS

Legislative Tour of Manufacturing Plants & Economic Overview : Presentations

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Legislative Tour of Manufacturing Plants & Economic Overview : Presentations

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The State Budget - New Hampshire Children's Summit : State Budget

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Steven Norton's presentation on the current state budget and outlook for the future at the NH Children's Summit - December 8, 2008.

State Revenue Options and Consequences : State Budget

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Dennis Delay's presentation to the New Hampshire Children's Summit - December 8, 2008

NH Children's Summit : Presentations

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Steve Norton will offer a presentation on Dissecting the NH Budget, and Dennis Delay will later offer Revenue Options and their Consequences
Location: Holiday Inn

Legislative Tour of Manufacturing Plants & Economic Overview : Presentations

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Economic Outlook for NH & the Lakes Region : Presentations

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Dennis Delay, Deputy Director of the Center, will offer a presentation on the economic outlook of NH and the Lakes Region. He will be joined by Jeffrey C. Fuhrer, Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Boson.
Location: Taylor Community - Woodside Facility

Economic Outlook for NH & the Capital Region : Presentations

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Dennis Delay, Deputy Director of the Center, will offer a presentation on the economic outlook of NH and the Capital Region. He will be joined by Jeffrey C. Fuhrer, Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Boson.
Location: Courtyard by Marriott

Graph of the Month - November 2008 : What is New Hampshire?

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

State Budget Shortfalls, SFY2009 This graph describes which states are facing shortfalls or budget gaps where revenues will fall short of the amount needed to fund current services for state fiscal year 2009. The additional mid-year gap represents shortfalls that states are facing in addition to the shortfalls faced at the time states adopted their SFY2009 budgets. The states which are facing the largest shortfalls, as a percent of total general funds, tend to be the states with the largest amount of economic distress. These are states with high home foreclosure rates, and large increases in unemployment rates and food stamp participation.

Dealing with New Hampshire's Budget Busters : State Budget

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

This report provides a description of how the state appropriates financial resources and how the state's priorities – as measured by state appropriations – have changed over time. As the state faces a potential budget deficit, there will be significant discussion regarding approaches to curbing spending on the primary drivers of state appropriations. This analysis is also designed to highlight what the state is not spending resources on.

NEEP Fall Economic Outlook Conference : Presentations

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Dennis Delay, Deputy Director of the NH Center for Public Policy Studies, will offer a presentation on the state's economic forecast at the conference. Keynote speaker will be U. S. Representative Barney Frank, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. U. S. forecast will be presented by Mark Zandi, Chief Economist for Moody's economy.com.
Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Auditorium

NH Local Government Center - Annual Conference : Presentations

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Dennis Delay, Deputy Director of the NH Center for Public Policy Studies, will offer a presentation, New Hampshire's Economy: The State We're In, at the NH Local Government Center's Annual Conference. This event is hosted by the NH Government Finance Officers Association.
Location: Radisson Hotel - Manchester

New Hampshire Trends, Higher Education, and the State Budget 2008 : What is New Hampshire?

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

This presentation, by Steve Norton, was given to the Nashua Rotary Club on November 10, 2008.

What is New Hampshire? 2008 Edition : What is New Hampshire?

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The NH Center for Public Policy Studies compiled this collection of graphs and tables for the use of Leadership New Hampshire, a program intended to introduce rising leaders to the people, strengths, and challenges of the Granite State. The Center is grateful for the opportunity to present this material to the Leadership New Hampshire participants and to all others seeking an overview of information about New Hampshire. The Center, not Leadership New Hampshire, determined what to include in this report.

Driving the Economy - Healthcare in New Hampshire (2008) : Healthcare Finance

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The cost of personal health care is rising in New Hampshire. In the Granite State, personal health care--which includes visits to doctors, hospitalizations, medicine, and so on--consumes 18 percent of our economy, or 18 cents of every dollar. In 2007, that amounted to $10.16 billion. Twenty years ago, spending on personal health care was less than 10 percent of New Hampshire's economy. Twenty years from now, health care spending is projected to reach nearly 22 to 25 percent of economic activity.

NH's State Prison Population : Adult Corrections

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Presentation to the Commission to Study the Sentencing, Incarceration, and Recidivism of Criminal Offenders in order to Enhance Public Safety and Improve the criminal Justice System's Cost Effectiveness. September 30, 2008

Driving Health Care Premiums: Cost-Shifting in New Hampshire : Healthcare Finance

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In an environment in which the public payers – which account for almost 50 percent of health care expenditures – pay less than the costs of services and some of the uninsured are provided services through hospital-based charitable care, the hospital industry has to find ways to support patient care services. One way of financing these deficits has been through allocation of unrecovered costs of one patient population to above-cost revenue collected from other patient populations – largely the privately insured. This phenomenon is called 'cost-shifting.' Hospitals also generate positive operating margins. Operating margins are the share of revenues for patient care services that exceed expenses for providing that care.

New Hampshires Next Budget Conversation: Spending and Revenues in 2010-2011 : State Budget

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

It will come as no surprise to those experienced with the state budget that New Hampshire is facing a potential budget deficit in the next – 2010 and 2011 – biennium. In the 1990's, the state's independent auditor declared that the state had a structural deficit – a situation in which natural growth in expenditures exceeded natural growth in state revenues. As a result of this 'biennial budget problem', every two years the legislature must carefully address spending growth and, in most biennia, find new revenue to balance the budget. The upcoming biennium may be different, and in important respects, more problematic than in the past. As a result of a changing revenue picture, states across the country are adjusting both revenue and spending plans to account for the economic dislocation associated with the current economic downturn. New Hampshire is doing likewise. The Center's analysis is unique in New Hampshire, because we examine not only the potential shortfall in state revenues, (which could be as much as $286 million in the next biennium), but also that State's growth in demand for state services and potential increases in the state's financial participation in local education costs. These trends will require the Governor and the Legislature to make changes in the state budget totaling between $372 and $495 million dollars over the next three years, beyond current state law. The Center's analysis is not meant to predict what will happen in the future. Instead, it provides policymakers with an estimate of the scale of changes that will have to be implemented to balance the budget in the next biennium in the absence of a strong economic recovery. Spending reductions will obviously be an important part of the conversation. And while issues such as controls in administrative costs will be a component of that discussion, the state will have to look to more significant changes in spending, perhaps taking the lead from other states pursuing the privatization of state activities. Spending reductions alone, however, will not be sufficient to resolve the budgetary problems. Any budgetary conversation will also, therefore, have to include discussions about revenues – further capitalization of the state's activities, increases in tax rates, and the introduction of gambling or a legacy tax, as examples.

Mental Health and Adults: Aging Will Drive the System : Adults and Mental Health in NH

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Nationally, approximately 26% of the population over the age of 18 has a mental health disorder. If New Hampshire is consistent with the rest of the nation, this suggests that more than 250,000 adults in New Hampshire have a diagnosable mental health disorder and slightly more than 150,000 would have a mental illness that significantly affects their ability to engage in daily living. Understanding who is using mental health services, what services are being provided, and what the service delivery system looks like is important to understanding what policies are necessary to ensure that the mental health system in New Hampshire is prepared for the future.

Graph of the Month - September 2008 : What is New Hampshire?

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Energy and Health Care as a Percent of GDP

Littleton Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours : Presentations

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton will speak at the Littleton Chamber of Commerce, Business After Hours event on the state budget, demographic changes, and education in New Hampshire.
Location: Littleton, NH
Contact: http://www.littletonareachamber.com/events.php

Integrated Design, Integrated Development Conference : Presentations

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton wil join a panel discussion at the 5th Integrated Design, Integrated Development Conference on July 17, 2008. Stepping up to the 2030 Challenge at the State Scale–Housing--Between 2000 and 2006, New Hampshire residents aged 30 to 39 declined by over 24,000, while those 65 and older increased 17%, the highest growth rate in New England. The authors of Communities and Consequences: The unbalancing of New Hampshire's human ecology, and what we can do about it will discuss how a new attitude is needed to change this trend; to allow housing affordable to all ages and life stages, and how we can be as welcoming to young people and children as we are to open space and older people. A panel will follow to discuss connecting housing diversity/density with the 2030 Challenge (high performance buildings). For more information: http://www.aianh.org/ididsessiondescriptions.asp
Location: Plymouth State College
Contact: Kate Hartnett
Email: nhkate@ncia.net

The Tax-Shift Impact of Targeted Property Tax Relief in New Hampshire : Local Government

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Across the country, state and local governments use tax policy to further a variety of other policy purposes. New Hampshire is no different, using tax exemptions and credits to encourage business development, support policy goals regarding the use of certain energy sources, or to assist state-identified vulnerable or otherwise meritorious populations. Unlike many states, where state funds are used to offset these programs, in New Hampshire the cost of these programs is born by towns and municipalities. Therefore, providing property tax relief to vulnerable populations raises the property tax burdens for others, a phenomenon the Center labeled "cost-shifting" in its 2004 analysis of property tax exemptions for the elderly. This paper further explores the State's property tax relief programs for vulnerable populations – the elderly, the disabled, and homeowners of modest incomes. It provides context for understanding the scope and implications of these programs and a resource to local communities.

Graph of the Month - June/July 2008 : What is New Hampshire?

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Estimated Percent Change in Population 2000-2030 by Northern New England County New Hampshire is expected to be the fastest growing state in northern New England from 2000 to 2030, but the growth is not projected to be the same across counties. In the last two decades New Hampshire's southernmost counties (Hillsborough and Rockingham) had seen the greatest population growth, but population growth will shift to the north and west in the future. Carroll, Belknap and Merrimack counties will see the largest percent increase in population in the next twenty years. Large increases in population could cause a strain on municipal services in Carroll, Belknap & Merrimack counties, associated with the influx of new residents and new housing. The Center will be examining this issue in an upcoming paper on the impacts of population change and aging on the State budget. Coos County will be the slowest growing county in New Hampshire. The map also shows that northwest Vermont and coastal Maine will also see high levels of population growth, while most northern Maine counties will actually lose population between 2000 and 2030.

New Hampshire: Trends, the Economy, and the State Budget : State Budget

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton's presentation at the Eggs & Things meeting in North Conway, June 5, 2008.

New Hampshire's Economic Outlook - May 2008 : Jobs & Economy

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

New Hampshire had one of its best ski seasons ever due to an abundance of snow. Venture capital investment in New Hampshire appears to be on the rise. Job losses in manufacturing can be tied to the failing real estate markets, and the downturn in housing construction. Financial services in the Granite State have been contracting, while healthcare is expanding. State and local governments are constrained by falling revenues, and rising expenditures. Housing prices in New Hampshire will probably fall 15% from the peak, before real estate markets bottom out. Still, New Hampshire should hold its traditional position of outperforming the regional economy in the future.

Eggs & Issues Breakfast : Presentations

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton will be addressing the Mount Washington Valley Economic Council on the state of the NH economy.

NH NEEP Outlook : Presentations

Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Dennis Delay presents the New Hampshire NEEP outlook.The latest NEEP forecast will be released with a discussion of the economic outlook for the New England region and for each of the six states. This will include detailed forecasts of key economic indicators, including employment by industry as well as the outlook for the region's housing markets.
Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Contact: Dennis Delay
Email: ddelay@nhpolicy.org

Demographics, Economics & State Budget Trends : Presentations

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton will be speaking at the Coos County Symposium on state budget concerns in the county and the state.
Location: The Balsams

Graph of the Month - May 2008 : What is New Hampshire?

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Percent of Wages Earned in Healthcare Jobs by Labor Market Area The Center offers the Graph of the Month from the array of data we use to understand the policy landscape across a wide range of policy issues. The Graph of the Month continues our mission to provide new perspectives on available data which will raise new ideas and improve policy debates through quality information and analysis on issues shaping New Hampshire's future.

New Hampshire Trends, Higher Education, and the State Budget : State Budget

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton's presentation to the Community Colleges of New Hampshire, May 19, 2008.

State Budget presentation : Presentations

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton will offer a presentation on the state budget to the directors of the Community Colleges of New Hampshire Foundation.
Location: NHTI

NH Economic Conditions : Presentations

Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Presentation on NH economic conditions to the Granite State Chapter of APICS (The Association for Operations Management). APICS offers education in the APICS disciplines associated with Supply Chain Management and Integrated Resource Management.
Contact: Dennis Delay
Email: ddelay@nhpolicy.org

State Budget : Presentations

Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton will offer a presentation to the Leadership Seacoast group, focusing on the NH state budget.
Location: LOB

Marc Hebert's MoneySense : Presentations

Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Dennis Delay appears on this Saturday morning live call-in financial planning radio show. Marc and Dennis will look at the state of the US economy at the end of the first quarter of 2008, and prospects for the future.
Location: WGIR- AM Radio

Overview of Modern Day Economic Times : Presentations

Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Part of the NH Government Finance Officers Association annual conference. Recession, inflation, housing and credit crunch, what's happening with the New Hampshire economy? Soothsayers went out of vogue long ago, so Dennis will share his insights on the economy based on trends, data and other modern forms of prediction.
Location: Red Jacket
Contact: Dennis Delay
Email: ddelay@nhpolicy.org

Regional Economic Outlook : Presentations

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Dennis Delay will present the regional economic outlook at the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Expo. Contact the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce for more info.
Contact: Dennis Delay
Email: ddelay@nhpolicy.org

Presentation at Pease Public Library on a Sustainable NH : Presentations

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton presents information at the Pease Public Library on the state budget, changes over time in expenditures and revenues as a roadmap for understanding New Hampshire State Government priorities.
Location: Pease Public Library
Email: snorton@nhpolicy.org

Graph of the Month - April 2008 : What is New Hampshire?

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

New Hampshire Governance by Town - 2007 The Center offers the Graph of the Month from the array of data we use to understand the policy landscape across a wide range of policy issues. The Graph of the Month continues our mission to provide new perspectives on available data which will raise new ideas and improve policy debates through quality information and analysis on issues shaping New Hampshire's future.

Where goes New Hampshire? NH 2018 : What is New Hampshire?

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

A presentation given by Steve Norton, Executive Director, at the NH 2018 seminar on March 11, 2008, sponsored by BusinessNH Magazine and Leadership New Hampshire.

Peyton's Place : Presentations

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Center Deputy Director Dennis Delay discusses the economy and the New Hampshire State Revenue outlook on: Peyton's Place A FORUM ON CURRENT ISSUES AFFECTING MERRIMACK & NH with State Rep. Peyton "Pete" Hinkle and invited guests Merrimack Community TV channel 22 Friday 6:30 & 9:30 PM Sat-Sun-Mon 6:30 & 9:30 AM & PM Tues 6:30 & 9:30 AM See www.MTV-22.com for programs
Location: MTV-22.com
Email: ddelay@nhpolicy.org

NH 2018 on NH Outlook : Presentations

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Steve Norton joins a panel of experts on Public Televisions NH Outlook analyzing at the future of New Hampshire. For more information see NH Outlook
Location: NH Public Television
Email: snorton@nhpolicy.org

Steve Norton Presents at NH 2018 : Presentations

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Executive Director Steve Norton will be presenting the Center's work on "What is NH" and participating in a panel discussion of the major trends affecting the state in the next decade. To review the Center's What is NH work see: http://www.nhpolicy.org/topic.php?sub=9 For more information on the event click here.
Location: Center of New Hampshire
Contact: Steve Norton
Email: snorton@nhpolicy.org

Steve Norton on the Exchange : General

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Steve Norton joins Laura Knoy and Jon Greenberg to discuss town meeting day. For more information see: http://www.nhpr.org/node/15477
Location: New Hampshire Public Radio
Email: snorton@nhpolicy.org

: General

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Strafford County Drug Treatment Court: Performance Evaluation Two : Strafford County Drug Treatment Court

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

This evaluation report of Strafford County's Drug Treatment Court program focuses on their second year of operation. This report discusses the program's admission and referral process, court supervision, and treatment services received by offenders as well as an estimate of costs of operating the programs as currently structured.

Release of Financing Local Government report : Press Release

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Location: NHCPPS
Contact: Dennis Delay
Email: ddelay@nhpolicy.org

Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns: A Data Book : Local Government Data Book

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

With the release of a new report, "Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns" and a publicly available and easily searchable online database, the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, in cooperation with the New Hampshire Public Finance Consortium (NHPFC), has provided the data needed to analyze city and town expenditures – or the financing of the municipal services they represent. [Print Report, including data for New Hampshire and New Hampshire's 13 cities]

Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns: Dataset 2001-2006 : Local Government Data Book

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns: A Data Book Excel Spreadsheet and Dataset [Contains Data for Every New Hampshire Municipality]

New Hampshire's Healthcare Dashboard : Presentations

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Location: NH House of Representatives' Commerce Committee
Email: snorton@nhpolicy.org

What is NH? : Presentations

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Location: Greater Manchester United Way
Email: snorton@nhpolicy.org

What is NH? : Presentations

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Location: NH Municipal Management Assoc.
Email: snorton@nhpolicy.org

New Website Launch : Press Release

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

NHCPPS's new website will be going live!
Location: NHCPPS
Contact: Ryan Tappin
Email: rjtappin@nhpolicy.org

Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance, 3rd quarter of 2007 : Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Using 2001 as its benchmark of 100.0, in the third quarter of 2007, the Center's "Index of the Population Lacking Health Insurance" registered 117.7. This means the number of uninsured persons has potentially risen above 130,000.

What is NH? : Presentations

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Location: Plymouth State University?s Concord campus
Contact: Steve Norton
Email: snorton@nhpolicy.org

Medicaid in NH: 2004-2007 : Healthcare Finance

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Medicaid is one of the primary drivers of state expenditures across the country and in New Hampshire. In New Hampshire, however, little long term trend analysis is available to assess the growth in the Medicaid program. This presentation, given to the House Finance Committee by Steve Norton, illistrates the Medicaid expeniture trends from 2004-2007.

Medicaid Trends in New Hampshire : Presentations

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

At the request of the House Finance Committee, Steve Norton will be presenting information from the Center's report on recent trends in Medicaid Expenditures. For more information, see "Driving the State Budget: Medicaid Trends 2004-2006."
Location: Legislative Office Building Room 210
Contact: Steve Norton
Email: snorton@nhpolicy.org

Legislative Presentation on the NH Economy : Presentations

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

New Hampshire House and Senate Finance and Ways & Means Committees on Wednesday, January 9, 2008, from 1-4PM in the Legislative Office Building (behind the NH State House). Ross Gittell, The New England Regional Economy, and what it means for NH. Ross can present the NEEP forecast, and how New Hampshire fits into the regional economic picture. Brian Gottlob, Real Estate and the Financial Sector – will the stress in these sectors spread to the broader economy? Dennis Delay, NH Business' Growth Sectors - what types of business are contributing the most to our state's domestic product, which ones contribute well to jobs, state revenues?
Location: Legislative Office Building
Contact: Dennis Delay
Email: ddelay@nhpolicy.org

Measuring the Health of the Healthcare System: New Hampshire's Healthcare Dashboard 2007 : Healthcare in NH

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

This dashboard, a new healthcare policy tool, challenges the perception that NH is one of the healthiest states in the nation. Surprisingly, for a state that has been ranked consistently as one of the healthiest states in the nation, the health and well being of the New Hampshire population falls behind the best states, and at a relatively higher cost.

Driving the State Budget: New Hampshire Medicaid Trends 2004-2007 : State Budget

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Medicaid is one of the primary drivers of state expenditures across the country and in New Hampshire. In New Hampshire, however, little long term trend analysis is available to assess the growth in the Medicaid program. Beginning four years ago, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) began providing quarterly expenditure reports to the Legislature. This data provides a unique opportunity to assess potential budget challenges in the upcoming biennium, as well as emphasize the importance of having access to such expenditure data, an issue highlighted by Governor Lynch in his budget address in February of 2007.

Outlook for the New Hampshire economy, November 2007 : Jobs & Economy

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Prepared in association with the New England Economic Partnership

November 2007 Economic Report : Jobs & Economy

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Prepared in November 2007 for publication in BusinessNH magazine.

Evaluating Reclaiming Futures - Final Performance Review : Reclaiming Futures

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0400

This paper is the final in a series of reports designed to provide ongoing feedback to those working with RF and the juvenile drug courts. It reviews data evaluating the RF program on a variety of different measures, focusing on RF's impact on drug court operations, and its impact on youth in the program.

An Overview of Health Care Costs and What Are YOU Going to Do about Them? : Healthcare Finance

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0400

This is a revised version of the PowerPoint presentation that was made by Doug Hall at the November 9 "NH Health Care Summit 2005" hosted by BusinessNH Magazine in Manchester.

Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance, 2nd Quarter 2007 : Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

According to the Center's proxy measure of those lacking insurance, the segment of the New Hampshire population lacking health insurance has increased significantly over the last 4 quarters. Using 2001 as its benchmark of 100.0, in the second quarter of 2007, the Center's "Index of the Population Lacking Health Insurance" registered 117.1. This means the number of uninsured persons has potentially risen above 130,000.

Education Finance and Adequacy : Educational Attainment and Quality

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Presentation to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Costing Adequate Education, September 24, 2007

What is New Hampshire? 2007 Edition : What is New Hampshire?

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Healthcare Costs in NH : What is New Hampshire?

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Presentation to the Commission to Investigate Cost Drivers in Providing Health Care, September 12, 2007

Adults and Mental Health in New Hampshire : Adults and Mental Health in NH

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

It is estimated that nationally approximately 26% of the population over the age of 18 have a mental health disorder. And approximately 16% of the population has some functional impairment which affects their ability to interact, form social connections and to function in a family. If New Hampshire is consistent with the rest of the nation, these estimates of prevalence would translate to more than 250,000 adults that would have a diagnosable mental health disorder and slightly more than 150,000 would have a mental illness that significantly affects their ability to engage in daily living.

Children's Mental Health in New Hampshire : Children's Mental Health in New Hampshire

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

This paper is one of a series of reports commissioned to inform policy-makers about the status of mental health in New Hampshire. This analysis is designed to answer basic questions about the mental health status of New Hampshire's children through an assessment of mental health prevalence estimates and an analysis of service use in the public Medicaid and privately insurance systems.

Healthcare Costs: What Can You Do About Them? : Children's Mental Health in New Hampshire

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance, 1st Quarter 2007 : Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

According to the Center's proxy measure of those lacking insurance, the segment of the New Hampshire population lacking health insurance has increased significantly over the last 3 quarters. Using 2001 as its benchmark of 100.0, in the first quarter of 2007, the Center's "Index of the Population Lacking Health Insurance" registered 113.7. This means the number of uninsured persons has potentially risen above 130,000.

Few and Far Between? Children's Mental Health Providers in NH : Children's Mental Health in New Hampshire

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

According to the 1999 U.S. Surgeon General report, one in five children has a diagnosable mental health disorder, and the vast majority of these youth – even those with the most severe impairments – receive no or inappropriate care. In New Hampshire, mental health practitioners have pointed to a shortage of providers, particularly child psychiatrists, as a primary cause of these unmet needs. These practitioners have described long waiting lists for appointments and the need for children living in rural areas to travel long distances for treatment. This paper provides an overview of the currently available data on mental health providers across the state.

Mental Health Services for New Hampshire's Children : Children's Mental Health in New Hampshire

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Data on mental health service use is critical to understanding the system of mental health care for children. In addition, such data can provide a baseline against which policymakers can assess access to mental health services in light of prevalence estimates or future policy interventions designed to increase access to mental health services. This analysis assesses private insurance claims data, Medicaid data, and data on care provided to those without insurance from hospital discharge data and from the community mental health system. This report is one of a series of reports commissioned to inform policy-makers about the status of mental health in New Hampshire. This analysis is designed to answer basic questions about the mental health service system by analyzing the services that are being provided to those with mental illnesses.

Children's Mental Health: Evidence-Based Practices in New Hampshire : Children's Mental Health in New Hampshire

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

This report is part of an investigation designed to inform the current knowledge base regarding evidence-based practices (EBPs) both nationally and in NH, the current status of EBP implementation in the state, and areas policy makers might consider as it supports improvements in access to EBPs in mental health services for New Hampshire children and adolescents. National literature on best practices and interviews with national and regional mental health experts serve as the basis for this report.

Public Pension Predicament: New Hampshire's Retirement System : State Budget

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

One of the Center's projects since its inception in 1996 has been to address issues regarding the state government's budget. This paper is the latest in our series of reports that illuminate the budget process, state programs and the state budget. All of these papers are available at no cost on the Center's website: www.nhpolicy.org This paper, like all of the Center's published work, is in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. Indeed, the Center welcomes individuals' and groups' efforts to expand the paper's circulation.

New Hampshire State Revenue Forecasts: A Good Track Record : State Budget

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

During 'budget' season state governments across the country struggle to project changes in revenue generated through that state's tax structure. These revenue projections are critical to the budget process, as they define constraints the existing revenue system puts on state spending. Because budgets in most every state must, by law, be in balance, revenue projections that are low, relative to actual experience, will create constraints on spending that are too great. Conversely, projections which are high relative to actual experience can create deficit spending.

Information that Matters, 2007 : Information that Matters

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The Center continues to be one of the state's primary sources of independent data-based policy analysis and we are proud of our contribution to the general welfare of New Hampshire. This report recaps the Center's research and organizational development over the last year and lays out our budget and work plan.

The Economy Rules! New Hampshire Revenue Trends, Past and Future : State Budget

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

This report examines New Hampshire State revenue trends in the last fifteen years. We also present a simple range of forecasts for New Hampshire State revenue through FY2009, using historical trends to predict what will happen in the future. Finally, we compare these simple trends to the revenue estimates provided by the Governor and the House Ways and Means Committee.

Services and Recidivism in New Hampshire's Juvenile's Drug Courts : Reclaiming Futures

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

This report examines the state-paid services recevied by youth in NH's four original drug courts as well as examines the differeneces in recidivism of these youth across the jurisdictions.

SB2 Adoption and Rescission Votes 1996-2006 : SB2

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500

The tables in this reports show how often towns and school districts have conducted referenda on SB2. All of the data were provided to the Center in February 2007 by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, which maintains records of municipal and school-district ballot questions, including those relating to SB2. The Center has not verified the accuracy of the department's tally of SB2 referenda.

Financing New Hampshire Hospitals: Cost Shifting in 2005 : Healthcare Finance

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Hospitals play a critical role in the health care system in New Hampshire. Total health expenditure in New Hampshire will total $9.65 billion in 2006. Hospital care accounted for the largest share of personal health care spending in 2006 and will also account for the largest share of growth over the next five years. Understanding hospital finances is critical to understanding the broader health care market and the future of the health care safety net, as the hospital sector is an important asset for the state and for the communities in which the hospitals reside.

Health Care Coverage in New Hampshire: Estimates of Proposed Expansions : Healthcare Finance

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500

This paper simulates the impact of LSR 886 to provide information to policy makers reviewing the various initiatives to expand coverage. For a variety of reasons discussed below, we estimate the impact in three parts: the proposed change in the private market, an expansion to those 19-20 year olds with income less than 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL) – the equivalent of $49,800 for a family of three – and an expansion to those 19-25 year olds with incomes less than 500% of the FPL.[2] Table 1 below documents the results of the simulation, showing the impact of the proposed policy changes on the number of uninsured and state and federal costs.

16 Cents of Every Dollar: Health Care Costs in New Hampshire : Healthcare Finance

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500

This paper is the latest in a series the Center has published on health care finance and insuring the New Hampshire workforce.The cost of personal health care is rising in New Hampshire, as it is across the nation. In the Granite state, personal health care--which includes visits to doctors, hospitalizations, medicine, and so on--consumes 16% of our economy, or 16 cents of every dollar. In 2006, that amounted to $9.65 billion.

Plumbing the Numbers #14 School Finance Reform: Back to Where We Started : School Finance

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500

It now appears that the laws and programs to reform school finance, enacted beginning in 1999 to comply with the Claremont II decision, have had no effect on pupil equity, as measured by per pupil spending. Among the highest spending districts, spending is now actually a little higher relative to the median than it was in 1999. Also, while the new laws enacted in 1999 initially did affect taxpayer equity and resulted in somewhat more equal tax rates for schools among towns, much of that change has been eroded away in the past six years. If current trends continue, the variation in tax rates will be just as great in two years as it was in 1998. In essence, measured against the two goals of the Claremont II decision, the state?s school finance reform has had little impact, and we are back to where we started in 1999.

Selected State and National Websites with Information on Quality of Care and/or Health Care Prices : Healthcare Finance

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500

This page contains links to websites that are discussed in an upcoming report, "How Are Other States Providing Health Care Information to Policymakers, Patients, and the Public?" We expect to release the report by the end of March, but have posted these links now so that interested participants in the Citizens' Health Initiative can easily peruse these sites themselves. The states are California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Utah, Vermont, and New Hampshire.

History of Education Finance : Healthcare Finance

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500

What is NH? 2007 : Healthcare Finance

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500

This presentation given by Dennis Delay, Deputy Director, to the Vista Roy Excellence in Public Service Series on January 18, 2007. This presentation gives an overview of the people of NH, the state budget, and other issues impacting the state.

New Hampshire Budget History and Drivers

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500

A presentation by Steve Norton, Executive Director to the Senate and House Finance/Ways and Means Committees on January 10, 2007.

Education Finance History

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500

A presentation by Steve Norton, Executive Director to the House Education Committee on January 9, 2007.

NH Business Growth Sectors

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500

A presentation by Dennis Delay, Deputy Director to the Senate and House Finance/Ways and Means Committees on January 9, 2007.

Fiscal Feast and Famine : State Budget

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500

This paper investigates the changes in spending in the state General Fund budget between state fiscal years 1997 and 2007. It calculates the ten-year change in policy priorities as expressed by the per capita appropriations made for 85 different state activities in inflation-adjusted dollars over the ten year period. It also identifies the five programs that accounted for nearly all real spending increase (above constant dollars per capita).

Strafford County Drug Treatment Court: Performance Evaluation One : Strafford County Drug Treatment Court

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500

This initial evaluation of Strafford County's Drug Treatment Court program focuses on their first year of operation. This report discusses the program's implementation, the admission and referral process, court supervision, and treatment services received by offenders.

Now One in Five : Educational Attainment and Quality

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400

This paper updates our previous work on dropouts. We present aggregate statistics consistent with our previous work, updated to include three more years of data 2003 – 2005. The results of this analysis are promising, but reporting issues continue to plague the state's understanding of the true drop out rate.

Trends in New Hampshire County Government Finances 1996-2004 : Local Government Finance

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400

This report provides information on the levels of, and trends in, county expenditures, analyzes the changing revenue structure of counties, and assesses the implications in light of broad demographic changes occurring in New Hampshire.

What is New Hampshire? 2006 edition : What is New Hampshire?

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance, 1st Quarter 2006 : Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Recent Trends in New Hampshire's Prison Population : Adult Corrections

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

After two decades of steady growth, New Hampshire's prison population stabilized from July 2002 to November 2005, then began to increase again. The population hit a new high of 2,583 at the end of April 2006. It is unknown whether this increase will be short-lived or the beginning of a new upward trend. This paper looks more closely at this and other trends in an effort to inform discussions about future corrections policy and spending.

Evaluating Reclaiming Futures: Performance Review 3 : Reclaiming Futures

Mon, 01 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400

This report is the next installment in the review of the Reclaiming Futures' initiative. Several system changes have been implemented because of RF, including improved program administration and case management. Comparing measures before and during the RF initiative, this report concludes that, over the course of the project, most measures of success have remained unchanged, though some improvement begins to show in the later project years. An analysis of drug court operations shows wide variation across jurisdictions.

How are Other States Providing Healthcare Information to Policymakers, Patients, and the Public : Healthcare Finance

Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0500

This report focuses on information on health prices, costs, and quality. The paper's primary objective is to provide information on other states' efforts that New Hampshire could adopt in order to expand the amount of useful healthcare information available to the New Hampshire's policymakers, patients and the public. In addition to New Hampshire, the states that are explored are California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Utah and Vermont. The report includes a list of websites for each of the selected states.

Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance, 4th Quarter 2005 : Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance

Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Cost-Shifting in New Hampshire Hospitals, 2004 : Healthcare Finance

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500

This report finds that the costs of freely provided charity care, bad debt, and underpayments by Medicare and Medicaid resulted in $300 million of cost-shifting by the state's 26 community hospitals in 2004. Health insurers paid, on average, 138% of cost for hospital services to fund the cost-shift and hospital margins that averaged 5.9%. The report, an update to our report of October 2003, presents a cost-shift "Hydraulics diagram" for each hospital for the first time.

An Overview of Healthcare Costs, Hospital Finances, and Cost Shifting : Healthcare Finance

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500

This PowerPoint presentation was presented by Steve Norton to a committee of the Business and Industry Association on February 20, 2006.

Peeling the Onion: Inpatient Hospital Care in New Hampshire : Healthcare Finance

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500

This report identifies the primary trends within the hospital inpatient market for 2001-2003. The primary finding is that cost-containment strategies focusing on the elderly and the Medicare enrolled population, those accounting for the lion's share of inpatient utilization, are most likely to be effective at controlling growth in this sector of the health care market.

Consumer Choice in Health Care: The Beginnings of a Market Driven System? : Healthcare Finance

Mon, 02 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Searching for Useful Health Care Prices : Healthcare Finance

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500

This report anticipates changes that will occur if responsibility for paying for health care is further shifted onto individuals in the future. It identifies the kind of information consumers will need to make personal health care purchasing decisions. It presents the necessity of having actual prices (not just charges) available so consumers can make intelligent choicest. It presents sources of price and quality information that are currently being designed and built for future use in the New Hampshire health care marketplace.

Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance, 3rd Quarter 2005 : Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Basic Facts on Health Insurers in NH, 2001-2004 : Healthcare Finance

Sat, 01 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400

This report is an update to "Commercial Health Insurers: Intermediaries in Health Care Finance," issued by the Center in October 2004. It presents basic data on the largest companies selling health insurance in the state in 2004 as submitted to the NH Insurance Department. The insurance covered 372,390 lives and the companies were paid over $1.2 billion for this coverage.

State Level Options for Reducing Private Sector Health Care Costs : Healthcare Finance

Sat, 01 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400

This paper lists eleven ideas for ways to reduce health care costs without simply shifting the cost onto others or reducing access to care or quality of care. Some of the ideas have been debated with regularity, others are offered for a first discussion in the state.

Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance, 2nd Quarter 2005 : Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance

Sat, 01 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Health Care Dollars and Health Insurance in New Hampshire, 2004 : Healthcare Finance

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400

This report presents basic data about the total costs of the health care system in New Hampshire in 2004. We estimate that the cost of personal health care spending in 2005 will amount to $7.5 billion. The report also presents data on the cost of health insurance and its availability to employees. 69% of full time workers in New Hampshire are enrolled in a health insurance plan while only 10% of part time employees are so enrolled. Other details are presented in the report.

The Third Safety Net : Healthcare Finance

Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400

This report notes that health care providers are losing revenue due to free care, bad debt, and payments from public programs that are less than the cost of the services provided. It warns that some providers may soon begin to claim the right to payment for these services from town and city governments under an old law, RSA-165. The report includes examples of towns having paid for such services for their indigent residents in the 19th and 20th centuries under that law.

Understanding the Latest School Funding Formula : School Finance

Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400

This report, the 13th in our "Plumbing the Numbers" series on school finance, examines the formula for school aid that was passed by the NH legislature in June 2005. We show that the new formula achieves somewhat greater targeting of aid than in previous years. Property-poor districts with additional educational costs generally receive more money, while prosperous districts with greater tax bases for funding education receive lesser amounts. The new formula, like the one it replaced, distributes aid in a less targeted and more equitable manner than did the foundation aid formula in use through 1999 when total amounts of aid were only 1/7 of the current amount. On a proportional basis, wealthier towns have benefited the most from the 1999 reform. On an absolute basis, however, the poorer towns are provided considerably more state aid than their wealthier counterparts.

Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance, 1st Quarter 2005 : Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Monitoring Changes in Health Insurance Coverage : Index of Population Lacking Health Insurance

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400

This paper, the first in our series, Health Finance Indicators, proposes an Index of of Population Lacking Health Insurance, a method for tracking whether the population in New Hampshire that lacks health insurance is changing. Data for the years 1999-2004 are presented, showing very little change over this five year period. The Center will make public announcements of the Index each quarter in the future.

Plumbing the Numbers #12: More and Less: How the House's Education Equity Index Redistributes State Aid : School Finance

Sun, 01 May 2005 00:00:00 -0400

This is the twelfth paper in the NH Center for Public Policy Studies' "Plumbing the Numbers" series of reports on education finance. The paper analyzes data contained in a spreadsheet developed in the NH House as part of the vote on HB 616 in April 2005. The analysis compares that data to current law.

Plumbing the Numbers #11: Which Target? State Aid and School Spending 1999 to 2004 : School Finance

Fri, 01 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0500

This paper, the 11th in our Plumbing the Numbers series, tracks education spending since the state-aid reforms of 1999 and shows that aid formulas have helped reduce the disparity in tax rates across the state but have not reduced disparities in spending per pupil. The gap between a relatively low-spending district and a high-spending district can exceed $5,000 per pupil or $100,000 per classroom. The analysis shows that local spending decisions have been unrelated to a town's wealth, tax base, tax rate, or state-aid grant. Overall, schools increased their spending by 5.6 percent between 2003 and 2004 and property taxes for education rose 7.1 percent.

Shifting the Load: Cost, Effects, and the Potential Impact of Property-Tax Relief for New Hampshire's Seniors : Local Government Finance

Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500

This report examines programs, implemented locally, to reduce property taxes on low-to-moderate income senior citizens. Statewide, more than 11,000 households received these tax exemptions in 2003 at a cost of more than $16 million--a cost shifted onto the other property-tax payers in the state. The cost for the 2004 tax year is likely to be at least $17.6 million. State law requires towns to provide small exemptions, and most towns have voted to extend much more generous tax breaks. The paper includes a table showing each town's exemption levels, the number of exemptions claimed in each town, and the impact on each town's property tax. The paper concludes that intergenerational tax equity issues are likely to grow more contentious as the size of the state's senior population grows by 91 percent in the next 10 years.

Projecting the Cost of Medicaid: Limitations of the Medical Price Index : Medicaid

Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500

This paper, the fourth in our series "Medicaid Topics," concludes that DHHS should use cost increase projections from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) instead of the Medical Price Index of the Consumer Price Index to estimate future costs of Medicaid services and presents the reasons for this recommendation. The result would be to project increased cost per Medicaid recipient at 6.5% per year instead of the 4.2% contained in the GraniteCare plan calculations.

GraniteCare: Some Questions and Answers : Medicaid

Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500

This paper, the third in our series "Medicaid Topics," presents 68 questions (and some comments) that the Center submitted to DHHS on January 18, 2005, regarding the department's GraniteCare. DHHS provided answers to some of the questions and we have summarized those responses in this paper. This paper should be read in parallel with "GraniteCare Financial Projections & Critical Assumptions," the department's most detailed presentation of its plan.

Plumbing the Numbers #10: Understanding State Aid, FY 05 & FY 06 : School Finance

Wed, 01 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500

This paper, the 10th in our Plumbing the Numbers series, is a lay-person's guide to New Hampshire's system of paying for education that explains the school-aid statute the legislature adopted in 2004. The paper first shows how the New Hampshire Department of Education determines each town's "cost of adequacy" for the town and then illustrates why some towns receive cash grants and others send a portion of their statewide property tax revenues to the state for redistribution. The paper includes graphs to illustrate how the formula works and tables showing exactly how each town fares under the current formula. The paper also examines the relationship between cash grants and tax rates, school spending per pupil, and residents' incomes.

Evaluating Reclaiming Futures: Performance Review 2 : Reclaiming Futures

Wed, 01 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500

This interim report reviews Reclaiming Futures' progress to date, compares operations across the four drug-courts, and concludes that the drug courts are succeeding in keeping youth in treatment.

Teen Drug Use and Juvenile Crime in New Hampshire : Reclaiming Futures

Wed, 01 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500

Two recent surveys indicate that New Hampshire teens use drugs at rates significantly higher than their national counterparts. One survey placed New Hampshire among the top 10 states in the nation in terms of the proportion of its teen population abusing either alcohol or drugs. The same survey placed New Hampshire in the top 10 for the proportion of teens needing--but not receiving--treatment for drug abuse. Both surveys indicate that rate of marijuana use among New Hampshire teens is one of the highest in the country. This paper examines these findings in light of data the Center has assembled on drug and alcohol charges filed against juveniles in New Hampshire and state records of publicly subsidized treatment for teens. The paper puts these data into the broader context of juvenile crime and the use of detention and diversion programs in New Hampshire.

A Framework for Thinking About Cost-Shifting in Health Care : Healthcare Finance