Selectmen decline to endorse petition seeking to block swept-funds transfer for vouchers

The Selectmen on Jan. 22 heard a petition warrant article urging the town to prohibit the collection and state redistribution of local “swept” education funds that would be used for Education Freedom Accounts (vouchers) and other scholarship programs. The petition framed the request as a call to ensure compliance with RSA 91-A and with Article 6 and Article 83 of the New Hampshire Constitution when state-administered funds are distributed.

Petitioner Roberta (name recorded as) Budman addressed the board and documented concerns about auditability and out-of-state intermediaries that administer funds to voucher recipients. The petitioner and several supporters argued that when swept funds are pooled statewide and directed to scholarship programs (the petitioner cited the Children’s Scholarship Fund and related third-party administrators), the town loses the ability to audit how those funds are allocated and whether constitutional clauses governing support for sectarian education are respected.

Selectmen discussed whether to place a board recommendation on the petition warrant. Board members asked for documentation of prior legal challenges and the state’s responses. After deliberation the board voted 1–4 (one in favor, four opposed) not to recommend the petition warrant article; several selectmen said they were sympathetic to the constitutional and auditing concerns but were unwilling to recommend a measure that, as written, might obligate the town to withhold state-levied funds and potentially invite legal conflict without clearer legal grounding.

The petition will appear on the warrant as a citizen-submitted article. Board members asked staff to provide court-case references and the record of prior requests for information so the board and public can review the legal background ahead of deliberative session and town vote.