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Senate panel lifts prohibition on general funds for Sununu Center replacement, adds fiscal review requirement
Summary
The Senate Finance Committee removed a prohibition on using general funds for construction of the Sununu Center replacement project and added a requirement that any request for general funds be vetted by the committee, prompting questions about project scope and communication with oversight bodies.
The State Senate Finance Committee voted to remove a statutory prohibition on using general funds for construction of the Sununu Center replacement facility, while approving a committee amendment that any use of general funds must first be presented to the fiscal committee.
The Sununu Center replacement is currently funded largely with ARPA and other specified sources, committee members and a department official said, and no immediate general fund appropriation was included in the packet. The amendment approved by the committee does not appropriate new general funds; it lifts the prohibition so that, if general funds become available in the future, the department could request them and the fiscal committee would review such requests.
Why it matters: committee members said the change provides flexibility to handle construction contingencies on a complex project — such as unexpected water or electric hookups or change orders — while requiring committee oversight. Other members warned that lifting the restriction could lead to plan changes and urged closer communication with the Children’s Oversight Commission and other stakeholders before any substantive design or bed‑count changes.
Discussion highlights: a department official explained the project has been largely constituted using ARPA funds and that construction projects of this scale frequently produce change orders and site‑specific adjustments; the official described the project as “an enormously complex project.” Senators pressed the department for assurances that any material changes would require contract amendments, public review, and approvals through the usual procurement and oversight channels.
The committee adopted a committee amendment that explicitly requires the department to bring any request for general funds to fiscal for review. The amendment was moved, seconded and approved with the committee calling for the ayes; the chair recorded the vote as passed.
Ending: Committee members approved the policy change while retaining oversight via the fiscal review requirement. Several senators said they expect continued engagement between department staff and the Children’s Oversight Commission and pledged to reserve judgment until technical details and any future funding requests are presented to fiscal.
