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Committee hears requests to fund unfunded positions at Glencliff and New Hampshire Hospital to reduce contractor reliance
Summary
Division III members discussed restoring funding for staffed positions at Glencliff and New Hampshire Hospital to lessen dependence on higher-cost contract workers, with DHHS saying budget structure left both contract and payroll lines underfunded and the department needing flexibility to transition contractors to full-time hires.
Lawmakers discussed restoring and reassigning budget authority for unfunded positions at Glencliff and the New Hampshire Hospital, where committee members said contract staff costs have been high and converting more roles to full-time employees could reduce long-term spending.
DHHS officials explained that during the governor's phase some positions were left unfunded while contract spending rose to cover vacancies. The department said that in some instances budgeted contract lines were not explicitly allocated, and COVID-era and recent wage pressures had driven up contractor use.
Committee members asked whether funding flexibility within existing appropriations could allow agencies to shift funds from contract lines to payroll without adding net new general-fund dollars. DHHS staff said Glencliff's budget structure lacked sufficient budgeted payroll authority for an easy reclassification: the governor's budget did not fully fund either payroll or contract lines, reducing the facility's ability to transition contractors into full-time positions without additional appropriations.
Chairman Edwards told members the Glencliff proposal would add roughly $2.6 million in general funds to allow the facility to hire staff and reduce contractor use; the New Hampshire Hospital request was larger and would add several million to provide flexibility to staff the facility as needed. DHHS said the fiscal impacts depend on census and operations; the department will monitor contractor spending and personnel fills and provide updated estimates.
Ending: The committee asked DHHS to return with more detailed reconciliations of payroll vs. contract lines and to clarify whether greater flexibility in HB2 language (rather than additional appropriations) could address staffing transitions without adding net new general-fund dollars.
