Panel Will Discuss State Downshifting Costs, Underfunding Schools, and Increasing Pressure on Local Property Taxpayers
Senator Donovan Fenton, in partnership with the City of Keene, invites local constituents and regional stakeholders to a community Town Hall meeting tonight, May 6, 2026, in Heberton Hall at the Keene Public Library. The forum will address escalating financial pressures placed on local taxpayers due to continued State of New Hampshire cost-shifting and school funding shortfalls.
As the State transfers its longstanding financial responsibilities to municipalities and reduces revenue sharing, local property taxes are being forced to bridge the gap or eliminate important services. The State is increasingly downshifting its fiscal responsibilities directly onto the property taxpayers, which is unsustainable and has reached a breaking point after years of increasing pressure on municipal budgets.
The local education budget is an important component of the fiscal strain. For the 2026-2027 school year, the Keene School Board proposed a modest 3.4% increase in spending. However, due to a projected decline in state education aid, local taxpayers are facing a projected 12% spike in the school portion of their property tax rate. This disconnect between the actual cost of education and the State’s “adequacy” aid is especially concerning. Recent court rulings have found state funding levels insufficient for providing a constitutionally mandated education.
The Town Hall meeting will begin at 6:00 PM in Heberton Hall at Keene’s Public Library and will include a panel discussion moderated by Senator Fenton.
Meeting Agenda
- 5:30 PM: Light refreshments and community networking.
- 6:00 PM: Panel discussion moderated by Senator Fenton
Panelists include Elizabeth Ferland, Keene City Manager; Chris Coates, Cheshire County Administrator; Robert Malay, Keene School District Superintendent; and Margaret Byrnes, NH Municipal Association (NHMA) Executive Director - 7:00 PM: Audience Input – public concerns and questions collected via cards distributed prior to 7:00 PM will be addressed by the panel.
This Town Hall serves as a pivotal opportunity for the public to understand why property taxes continue to rise despite conservative local budgeting. It is also an urgent call to action for State lawmakers to address funding inequities that threaten the long-term stability of New Hampshire municipalities.
