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| New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute | |
|---|---|
| Name | New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute |
| Formation | 2003 |
| Type | Nonprofit research organization |
| Headquarters | Concord, New Hampshire |
| Region served | New Hampshire |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute
The New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute is a nonprofit think tank based in Concord, New Hampshire focused on state-level fiscal analysis, tax policy, and public spending. It produces research used by legislators, New Hampshire General Court, advocacy groups such as AARP, AFL–CIO, and media outlets including the Concord Monitor and New Hampshire Union Leader. The institute engages with stakeholders from Governor of New Hampshire administrations, local municipalities, and regional organizations such as Northeast-Midwest Institute.
The institute provides data-driven analysis of tax policy, budget deficits, and public services affecting residents of Hillsborough County, Rockingham County, and rural areas like Coos County. It frequently cites federal sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and state agencies including the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration. Its work intersects with national debates involving organizations like the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Brookings Institution, and the Tax Policy Center.
Founded in 2003 during debates over state tax changes under governors such as Craig Benson and John Lynch, the institute emerged amid policy disputes over the Business Profits Tax (New Hampshire) and the Interest and Dividends Tax. Early analyses addressed proposals linked to legislators in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and the New Hampshire Senate, and were cited during contentious sessions in the New Hampshire State House. Over time, it expanded research to include labor issues related to unions such as Service Employees International Union and low-income programs administered through agencies like New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority.
The institute's stated mission emphasizes equitable fiscal policy, often collaborating with nonprofits including New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, and national partners like Economic Policy Institute. Activities include testimony before legislative committees such as the New Hampshire Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee, briefings for the Governor's Office and local officials, and workshops for community groups including United Way of New Hampshire and Community Action Partnership of Strafford County.
Publications cover topics from Medicaid enrollment and Medicare impacts to analyses of the Earned Income Tax Credit and state revenue forecasts. Reports draw on datasets from the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and academic work from institutions such as Dartmouth College, University of New Hampshire, and Colby-Sawyer College. The institute issues policy briefs, fact sheets, and technical memoranda similar in scope to those produced by the Pew Charitable Trusts and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Advocacy focuses on progressive tax reform, protection of funding for public education systems like the New Hampshire Department of Education, expansion of health coverage administered through New Hampshire Health Protection Program, and support for affordable housing initiatives linked to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. Positions have aligned with coalitions including Coalition on the Public Trust and influenced debates involving elected officials such as members of the Executive Council of New Hampshire and candidates for Congressional seats.
Governance typically includes an executive director, research staff, and board members drawn from civic leaders, academics, and labor representatives. Funding sources have included philanthropy from foundations like the Ford Foundation, grants from the Kresge Foundation, and individual donations; the organization also competes for contracts with state agencies and receives support similar to that awarded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Open Society Foundations. Staff collaborate with scholars from Northeastern University, Harvard Kennedy School, and regional think tanks such as the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.
The institute's reports have been cited in coverage by NPR, the Associated Press, and local broadcasters including WMUR-TV, influencing legislative outcomes on tax bills and budget amendments in the New Hampshire State Legislature. Supporters credit the institute with bringing data to debates that involve nonprofits like Granite United Way and agencies such as the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Critics, including some New Hampshire Republican Party officials and business groups like the New Hampshire Association of Manufacturers, argue the institute's analyses reflect partisan priorities and favor higher taxation, often countered by alternative studies from groups like the Tax Foundation and Heritage Foundation.
Category:Non-profit organizations based in New Hampshire