Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dncr Budget Pfas Parks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DNCR presents FY26 priorities: parks, timber revenue shifts, PFAS funds and state aid grant risks
Summary
The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources told the finance committee it cut general‑fund requests while shifting some forest management staff to timber‑sale revenues, warned the committee about long‑term obligations from state aid grants for wastewater projects and requested non‑lapsing authority for PFAS settlement funds.
Concord — Commissioner Sarah Stewart told the House Finance Committee the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) produced a budget that reduces general‑fund demand but relies on revenue‑funded shifts, timber sale proceeds and one‑time money for PFAS and park infrastructure.
Stewart said the agency reduced general‑fund allocations by about 11% from its agency request and preserved critical federally matched programs such as the Division of Historical Resources review and Section 106 compliance. She said the department moved three generally funded forest management positions to the forest management and protection revolving fund — the timber sale fund — and warned the committee that over‑obligating that fund risks long‑term sustainability.
Parks and user fees: DNCR said state parks are operationally self‑funded and that the agency raised some fees — Hampton Beach meters, for example — and automated payments; the department uses fee revenue to absorb wage increases for seasonal staff. The commissioner said parks revenues and an ARPA infusion for campgrounds have helped expand capacity and that the parks system tracks high occupancy, with seasonal hires peaking in summer.
PFAS, drinking water and state aid grants: DNCR and the Department of Environmental Services staff briefed the committee on multiple funds available to address PFAS and drinking‑water emergent contaminants, including a pending settlement expected to yield a sizeable distribution to New Hampshire. The department asked for a $55 million appropriation in FY26 tied to settlement proceeds and asked the committee to make that appropriation non‑lapsing for the biennium to allow timely dispersion.
Stewart emphasized the state aid grants program for wastewater projects creates long‑term state obligations: DNCR staff calculated that maintenance payments (the state’s statutory 20% share of debt service) on already‑approved wastewater grants create a potential 20‑plus‑year liability that totals roughly $140 million if all awarded projects are fully financed to 2052.
Timber fund shift and wildfire detection: the department said shifting staff to the timber sale revolving fund will save general funds (about $520,000) but cautioned that the fund could become over‑obligated. The department also discussed tradeoffs — fund wildfire detection, seasonals for fire towers and the risk of cutting seasonal staff if funds are reallocated. DNCR said federal state assistance programs remain important for local firefighting capacity and equipment grants.
Capital projects and Cannon Mountain: the commissioner updated the committee on the Cannon Mountain tramwork planning: $10 million was used for early site and feasibility work and the department is working with the Department of Public Works on an RFI and an expected RFP process; an initial bid this season returned a higher estimate than available bond authority and the department is validating foundation/engineering work before rebidding.
What’s next: DNCR requested several technical budget amendments (including a non‑lapsing appropriation for emerging contaminant settlement dollars), asked the committee to consider fee modernization where statute allows and said it will provide the committee with a breakdown of general‑fund line items that are matching funds for federal grants.
