Revision: Jan. 16, 2025, 12:09 p.m.
HB 643-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0716
02/08
HOUSE BILL 643-FN
AN ACT expanding the number of Grafton County commissioners.
SPONSORS: Rep. Barton, Graf. 1; Rep. DeLemus, Straf. 1
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
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ANALYSIS
This bill expands the number of Grafton County commissioners from 3 to 5, and provides that all such commissioners shall be elected to 2-year terms.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0716
02/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT expanding the number of Grafton County commissioners.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 County Commissioner Districts; Grafton County. RSA 662:4, V is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
V. Grafton: District 1, the towns of Canaan, Enfield, Grafton, Hanover, and Orange, and the city of Lebanon; District 2, the unincorporated place of Livermore and the towns of Bethlehem, Franconia, Easton, Lincoln, and Woodstock; District 3, the towns of Alexandria, Ashland, Bridgewater, Bristol, Campton, Hebron, Holderness, Plymouth, Thornton, and Waterville Valley; District 4, the towns of Bath, Benton, Haverhill, Landaff, Lisbon, Littleton, Lyman, Monroe, and Sugar Hill; District 5, the towns of Dorchester, Ellsworth, Groton, Lyme, Orford, Rumney, Warren, and Wentworth.
2 Elected for 2-Year Term; Grafton County. Amend RSA 653:1, VI(j) to read as follows:
(j) Grafton county-one county commissioner by the voters in each county commissioner district; provided that, at the [2022 state general election, the commissioner from district 3 shall be elected to a 2-year term, the commissioner from district 1 shall be elected to a 4-year term and the commissioner from district 2 shall be elected to a 2-year term] 2026 state general election, the commissioners from districts 1 and 3 shall be elected to 2 year terms. At each subsequent state general election, [2] 5 commissioners shall be chosen in the county by the voters of the districts and shall be elected to 2 year terms[ in which a commissioner's term is expiring; and, of the commissioners so chosen, one shall serve a 4-year term and one shall serve a 2-year term and both shall hold their offices until their successors are chosen and qualified. Following the 2022 state general election, the 4-year term shall be rotated in sequence starting with district 2].
3 Application; Grafton County. The changes in Grafton County commissioner districts established by this act shall not affect constituencies or terms of office of commissioners presently in office. The commissioner districts established by this act shall be in effect for the purpose of electing commissioners at the 2028 state general election. If there shall be a vacancy in a commissioner district for any reason prior to the 2028 state general election, the vacancy shall be filled as provided in law for Grafton County commissioners that existed for the most recent prior state general election.
I. Section 1 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2028.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
25-0716
1/7/25
HB 643-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT expanding the number of Grafton County commissioners.
FISCAL IMPACT:
| ||||
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 |
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
County Expenditures | $0 | $0 | $0 | $39,000 |
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Local Expenditures | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
METHODOLOGY:
This bill adds two Grafton County commissioners and provides that all commissioners shall be elected to two-year terms.
The New Hampshire Association of Counties (NHAC) states that the additional two Grafton County Commissioners would create a total cost of $38,551.47 for FY 2028 and by an indeterminable amount each year thereafter. See the cost breakdown in the table below.
ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT | |
| FY 2028 |
Salary (2 positions) | $12,875.00 x 2 = $25,750.00 |
Inflation (3%) | $772.50 |
Social Security & Medicare (7.65%) | $2,028.97 |
Mileage & Conference Attendance | $10,000 |
Total Estimated Cost | $38,551.47 |
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
New Hampshire Association of Counties