Strafford County delegation hears public concern after Medicaid rate cut forces proposed cuts, hiring freeze

STRAFFORD COUNTY, N.H. — The Strafford County delegation on Jan. 22 heard public objections to the commissioners' proposed 2026 budget after county officials said a late state change to nursing‑home Medicaid reimbursement would reduce county revenue by $442,000.

A county commissioner told the delegation the commissioners submitted a proposed operating budget that included figures read into the record (proposed "93,57,853" in operating expenses with offsetting revenues of $47,747,963, leaving "46,29,890" to be raised by taxes) and said the governor's office notice received Dec. 29 cut nursing‑home rates statewide, worsening the county's projected shortfall and prompting personnel and cost adjustments.

"We received that letter on December 29th just as we were getting ready to complete the budget," the commissioner said, adding that the proposed plan absorbed an increased bond payment, rising health insurance costs and planned raises while projecting certain revenue offsets. The presentation said the commissioners proposed a net workforce reduction of 15.5 full‑time equivalent positions and had instituted a hiring freeze at the House of Corrections and Riverside Rest Home, authorizing replacements only for existing openings.

In public comment, Mrs. Rice, who identified herself as a private resident of Rochester, criticized the timing and transparency of the budget process, saying public hearings should inform decisions rather than react to a finished product. "A public hearing is not supposed to be a courtesy call after the fact. It is supposed to inform decisions, not react to decisions that are already baked," she said, and asked the delegation to require another public hearing if it amends the budget materially.

Commissioner Geris responded that the 15.5 FTE reductions primarily reflected a combination of retirements, resignations and existing vacancies and that departments had been reviewed to remove positions where the impact would be least. "Just when we were going through the budget, every department ... decided to get rid of those positions where we thought it would have the least amount of impact in order to bring the budget somewhere in line to an acceptable tax rate," he said, adding that commissioners also have a fiduciary responsibility for operations.

The administrator of Riverside Rest Home, who spoke and self‑identified as the facility's licensed nursing‑home administrator, described the demands of the role and said he is training staff to replace him over time. "I'm the administrator of Riverside Rest Home. I'm a licensed nursing home administrator ... I'm not going to be here forever. I'm training people to replace me," he said, noting the facility's operational responsibilities and that a hiring freeze and selective replacements had been put in place.

Representative Wade asked whether budget subcommittee meetings would be open to the public; the delegation replied that subcommittee meetings will be open, televised and recorded. A member of the public also offered an estimate that the county portion of an individual tax bill would rise about 6%, saying in their case the increase would be approximately $36.

The delegation closed the public hearing and moved into procedural business, including a motion to approve minutes from Oct. 14, 2025; members attempted a voice vote but raised questions about roll‑call requirements for members attending remotely (Zoom) and the transcript does not clearly record a final tally. Delegation leaders announced subcommittee schedules and procedural deadlines: several subcommittees are scheduled Jan. 30 and Feb. 6, the proposed executive committee meeting is Feb. 20 (snow date Feb. 27), and the proposed full delegation vote on the budget is scheduled for March 4, 2026 (snow date March 11). The delegation also stated that resumes for a Peace Development Authority replacement were due by Feb. 3 and that a candidate list will be presented to the committee before the full delegation vote.

What happens next: subcommittees will review budget details in public, and the delegation is scheduled to vote on the proposed budget at its March 4 meeting; members and the public may submit questions to commissioners or the county administrator in advance as part of the subcommittee process.