How will we to return to normal and restore ourselves mentally and fiscally after the COVID-19 pandemic? The NH Fiscal Policy Institute has been assessing the economic damage done to our state and what it might take to get back to where we were. NH has a rainy-day fund, but even with federal support it will not nearly cover expanded costs due to unemployment, Medicaid, Food Assistance, other family and health services, and lost revenue. In fact, NH is worse off than other states because of low reserves and in the bottom 10 states when examined by Moody’s fiscal stress tests.

Our state has long operated under regressive taxation which means that people with lower incomes pay a greater portion of their income to the state than those better off. Because of COVID-19, the number of residents in financial trouble is increasing and their prospects are worsening. It is time to think about progressive taxation, which is inherently more fair. That may mean an income tax which does not abuse those with less, and does not rely so heavily on property taxes. Can a Republican governor, who has used over 50 vetoes to stop other progressive legislation, become more flexible in light of our state’s realities? Now would be the time!

My neighbors and I want to survive and return to normalcy, even if it means our state has to evolve. It is imperative that we embrace bipartisanship and be open to new strategies for funding essential state programs.