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Committee defers maintenance funding for Sununu Youth Center property until transfer; directs DAS to request appropriation later
Summary
The committee zeroed out a $509,000 maintenance appropriation planned in year two for the Sununu Youth Center/Manchester property, agreeing that transfer timing is uncertain and the Department of Administrative Services will come back for funds when the state assumes property control.
House Finance voted unanimously to remove a roughly $509,000 general-fund appropriation in year two intended to maintain the Sununu Youth Center (Manchester) property after HHS vacates the site.
Committee members and the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) representative agreed the planned transfer of the facility to state ownership likely will not align with the next biennium’s early months; DAS estimated the transfer and the need for maintenance funds would occur later, possibly in fiscal 2027. Given the timing uncertainty, the committee adopted language that zeros the year-two appropriation and requires DAS to request the actual funds by a separate warrant to the Governor and Executive Council when the transfer is imminent.
Representative McGuire explained the Sununu Youth Center is being replaced by a Hampstead facility (the new Youth Development Center), and the Manchester property will remain a state-owned building that will need utilities, upkeep, and demolition of certain structures until it can be sold. DAS said state law requires coordination with the City of Manchester to sell the site for highest and best use.
The committee approved the HB 2 amendment and the accompanying HB 1 amendment to zero out the $509,000 in year two and added the procedural language that requires DAS to request an appropriation when the property is relinquished. The motion passed unanimously.
DAS told the committee the likely highest-and-best reuse is housing, but the department will work with Manchester on disposition and return with appropriation requests timed to actual transfer.
