Unspoken truths behind new hampshire’s education funding debate

Building/ File: Concord Monitor

 According to Concord Monitor, some truths go unspoken. There are many examples of this, and often there are understandable reasons why people choose not to say them out loud.

Here’s one such example from New Hampshire: for many advocates of increased higher education spending, improving actual learning is not the main priority.

I say this as someone who has spent much of his life in education. I’ve taught in public, religious, and military schools, as well as at community colleges and universities. I’ve been a member of the NEA and SEA, served on two school boards, and spent multiple terms on the House Education Committee. With that background, it’s worth stating a few uncomfortable truths about the education establishment.

Many people recognize the school funding debate for what it really is: a vehicle to push a broader agenda-namely, the introduction of a state income tax. Some progressives appear comfortable with high levels of education spending that drive property taxes up to painful levels. In some cases, it even seems that this financial pressure is politically useful to them.

There are also those who argue that Concord should contribute more. But unlike the federal government in Washington, D.C., the state cannot simply create money. Not everyone fully understands that, which points to a need for stronger civic education.

A common talking point is “property tax relief.” The idea is to impose an income tax on higher earners in order to reduce property taxes. But trying to fix high taxes by adding new ones is both illogical and unsupported by evidence. States like Connecticut and New Jersey illustrate this clearly.

At a recent hearing on CACR 12, some of these rarely spoken truths came out. Local progressive leaders and members of the education establishment opposed putting this income tax proposal on the ballot-largely because it would give voters a direct say. Many seem to favor a system that expands government, increases public-sector employment, and, in turn, strengthens political support through campaign contributions. This pattern is visible in education, where political donations are publicly documented. Critics argue that this creates a kind of circular flow of money.

Meanwhile, spending per student has reached around $23,000-higher than in most states-even as enrollment declines and test scores drop. In places like Claremont, significant funding comes from the state, yet questions remain about how effectively those funds are used.

This model of expanding government has been especially visible in states like California. Even leaders admired for other reasons, such as Ronald Reagan, played a role in shaping it. Policies that enabled collective bargaining for public employees contributed to the growth of a large unionized public sector. Over time, this has required higher taxes to sustain. As a result, many residents have moved to lower-tax states like Texas, Florida, and Tennessee-though not everyone has the ability to leave.

Another major challenge in these states is the cost of public-sector pensions. These long-term obligations require increasing revenue, putting additional strain on state budgets. In extreme cases, financial pressures have led municipalities, such as Cleveland, to declare bankruptcy.

In contrast, New Hampshire is often seen as a model of fiscal restraint in a region where higher taxes and spending are common. Recent moves by states like Maine to introduce “millionaire taxes” are viewed by critics as repeating policies that have struggled elsewhere, including in Massachusetts and New York. Population shifts from higher-tax to lower-tax states serve as a warning that some believe should not be ignored.

Governor Kelly Ayotte has made it clear that she wants to avoid turning New Hampshire into a higher-tax state like Massachusetts. Despite facing budget challenges, her administration worked toward a balanced approach through negotiation and compromise. The absence of a broad-based tax is often credited with enforcing fiscal discipline and contributing to the state’s strong quality-of-life rankings.

Ultimately, many residents of New Hampshire remain skeptical of policies that expand government spending and taxation-especially when those policies are framed as tax relief or increased investment in education.

That, at least, is one truth that is being said out loud.