LCHIP Budget Cut, Dedicated Funding Challenged

On Friday, February 22nd, Governor John Lynch and the New Hampshire Legislature's Joint Fiscal Committee rescinded $500,000 of the current fund balance at the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP). The cut was part of a $50 million budget reduction initiative for the state's current fiscal year. LCHIP does not believe the recision will require the program to eliminate or reduce any grants awarded in its most recent grant cycle, but it is $500,000 less than LCHIP would otherwise have available in overall program funding.

The two year budget adopted last June funded LCHIP at $12 million, $6 million in general funds for the current budget year and up to $6 million in the next budget year to come from a dedicated funding source. This dedicated funding source for LCHIP is a fee assessed on recording of documents at the ten state registries of deeds, and collection of the fee is scheduled to begin July 1, 2008. Unfortunately, bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate to repeal this dedicated fund before collection even begins. The Forest Society is actively opposing these bills (HB 1547 and SB 304) and encourages our members to contact their state representatives and ask them to vote against repealing the dedicated fund.

To get information on how to contact your State Representatives and State Senator, click here.

For more information on LCHIP funding and current legislation, call or email Chris Wells, Director of Policy at (603) 224-9945, .

 

Please see this press release for the latest information.