State Sen. Denise Ricciardi attended Wednesday’s Jaffrey Select Board meeting to highlight recent legislative efforts and hear local concerns regarding school funding and infrastructure backlogs.
Ricciardi, a Bedford Republican representing District 9 — which includes Jaffrey, Greenfield, Lyndeborough, Sharon, and Temple — chairs the Senate Transportation Committee and serves as vice chair of the Commerce Committee.
Ricciardi discussed ongoing efforts to restore the state’s original commitment to return 40% of room and meals tax revenue to New Hampshire municipalities. While state legislation originally intended a 60-40 state-local split, budget caps have restricted local allocations for years.
After sponsoring a 2021 law that guaranteed towns a 30% share, Ricciardi filed legislation this session to restore the full 40% distribution. For Jaffrey, recent increases yielded roughly $538,000 more in rooms and meals revenue this past year compared to pre-2021 levels — a 95% boost, according to Ricciardi.
Ricciardi also highlighted healthcare legislation she sponsored, including a transparency law enacted in January that requires pharmacies to inform consumers of available pricing options — including insurance copays, cash prices, and manufacturer coupons. Another 2024 measure requires health insurers to issue prior authorization decisions within three days for urgent care and seven days for standard requests, or face automatic approval.
“These seem like small things, but they are things that are going to improve the lives of people in the Granite State,” said Ricciardi, of the healthcare bills.
Selectman Andy Lawn raised municipal budget pressures, pointing to educational funding as a primary strain.
“It’s hard on everybody,” Lawn said.
Ricciardi noted that state aid for public schools reached record levels in the past year, adding that Jaffrey should see increased funding through the Statewide Education Property Tax (SWEPT) in the coming fiscal cycle. However, she reiterated her opposition to a state income or sales tax to fund education, arguing that neighboring states with broad-based taxes have not successfully reduced local property tax burdens.
Selectman Franklin Sterling, who serves as vice chair of the Southwest Region Planning Commission’s Transportation Advisory Committee, voiced concern over funding gaps for regional roads and bridges.
“It’s difficult, almost impossible, to get on the 10-year plan,” said Sterling.
The discussion followed the Legislature’s August override of Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s veto of the state’s 10-Year Transportation Plan. Despite retaining key projects, budget constraints forced state transportation officials to delay or remove several local improvements.
Ricciardi urged the board to contact her office about specific projects that needed to be completed.