Should NH contribute more to local employee retirement?

Next Thursday, February 16, the House of Representatives will vote on a bill to add state contributions to the retirement system for local government employees.

The New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) was established several decades ago to consolidate the retirement plans for many state and local government employees. As an incentive for towns to join the NHRS, the state contributed a portion of the retirement payments for municipal employees.

Following the economic downturn in 2008, the state cut its contribution rates. This required cities and towns to pay for more into the retirement system.

HB 413 is a 2017 bill that would restore some of the state contribution for local employees. 

Bill supporters argue that the cuts to state funding were supposed to be temporary. They say that HB 413 will help towns and cities lower property taxes.

Bill opponents argue that the state contribution was supposed to be a temporary incentive, not a promise for permanent funding. Others argue that any state spending decisions should be saved for the two-year budget bill, which the House is working on now.

Do you support state contributions to to the retirement system for local government employees? Share your opinion in the comments.