House Public Works and Highways panel amends HB 25A to restore FAA match, add veterans home and college items

A House Public Works and Highways Committee public hearing and work session on House Bill 25A resulted in several additions to the governor's capital budget proposal, including a $3,626,831 state match intended to unlock roughly $64 million in Federal Aviation Administration funds for New Hampshire airports.

The committee, chaired by Representative David Mills, heard testimony from college and local-government representatives and aviation officials before taking straw votes and drafting amendments to HB 25A. Shannon Reed of the Community College System of New Hampshire asked the panel to consider an additional $2.6 million for the colleges, saying, “That $2,600,000 is comprised of 3 elements” and describing needs for IT infrastructure, critical maintenance and energy management systems. John Graham, a member of the Board of Managers for the New Hampshire Veterans Home, told the committee the home needs ADA work, saying, “If you wanna know what it is, it's for ADA compliance.”

Airport officials and municipal advocates urged restoration of state funds that enable federal grants. Tim Thompson, assistant director of community development for the city of Concord, argued that state matching funds multiply federal investment. Margaret Burns, executive director of the New Hampshire Municipal Association, said local airports cannot access roughly $62 million in federal funding unless a small state match is appropriated. Andrew Pomeroy of the Granite State Airport Management Association explained the funding source: “90% of this fund ... is from the FAA,” and…