CONCORD, NH – Finance Committee Republicans today passed a balanced budget for the next two years that is fiscally responsible, helps small businesses, property taxpayers, working families and those in our communities that are most vulnerable. 
 
      “The budget we passed is a win for taxpayers and a win for New Hampshire,” said Finance Chairman Sen. Gary Daniels (R-Milford), “It takes care of our state’s priorities, funds essential needs across the board and lives within our means. The House proposed sending $100 million dollars directly back to property taxpayers which we supported. We are also sending an additional $188 million dollars from meals and rooms revenue back to cities and towns for property tax relief, an increase of $50.5 million over the last budget.” 
 
      “Our budget also emphasizes helping our small businesses through tax cuts; providing more educational opportunities for low-income families; helping our citizens dealing with mental health and addiction issues and protecting our treasured natural resources and environment by dedicating more funding to keeping our water clean,” Daniels added.
  
     Senate President Chuck Morse (R-Salem), praised the work done by the committee, saying, “As a member of Finance, I could not be prouder of the consideration and deliberation that has gone in to shaping this budget. Weighing so many competing interests is never easy, but we listened carefully to our departments and the public when they gave their input. This budget is fiscally conservative, built on reliable revenue numbers and keeps the promises Republicans made when we laid out our agenda back in January,” said Morse. 
 
   “It’s unfortunate that the Democrats on the committee pushed for unsustainable spending and a multitude of tax increases on our Main Street businesses. Voters made it very clear last November that they do not want an income tax in our state. It’s obvious Democrats haven’t listened and continue to want to spend New Hampshire into an income tax. Senate Republicans will never allow that to happen,” continued Morse.