The town of Hampstead is asking the state of New Hampshire for more money to offset tax losses from Hampstead Hospital, which transitioned from private to public ownership two years ago.Some lawmakers are skeptical of making more payments, even as the hospital places greater demands on town resources.Repeated violent incidents at Hampstead Hospital, where the state operates a youth mental health facility, have required local police to respond so many times that, Selectman Joseph Guthrie said, the town has had to hire two additional police officers to ensure it can still cover all calls for service.”We think that it’s fair that this facility coming into our community should participate in assisting the town with the cost of services we provide to them,” Guthrie said.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<Since the state purchased the hospital from a private company in 2022, it has made two payments to the town to offset property tax losses.”What had been decided through negotiations at that point in time was we would make those payments, which we have done for the past two years,” said Nathan White, chief financial officer of the Department of Health and Human Services.Even though the town is saddled with new costs connected with the transition and responding to incidents of violence committed by young patients against hospital staff, the 2025 payment is up in the air.”It was supposed to be in the budget,” said state Sen. Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have to be here.”An attempt to secure that funding last year failed following an impasse between the New Hampshire House and Senate. This year, the Senate passed a bill to appropriate more money, which would be added to DHHS funds to give Hampstead a payment of $191,000.Some House lawmakers are skeptical of continuing to provide the offset payments. Local officials said the burden on the town is only going to increase once the state’s new youth detention facility is finished and ready to open on the hospital property.”In the very near future, they’re going to expand that, so we see a real impact on our town,” Guthrie said.
The town of Hampstead is asking the state of New Hampshire for more money to offset tax losses from Hampstead Hospital, which transitioned from private to public ownership two years ago.
Some lawmakers are skeptical of making more payments, even as the hospital places greater demands on town resources.
Repeated violent incidents at Hampstead Hospital, where the state operates a youth mental health facility, have required local police to respond so many times that, Selectman Joseph Guthrie said, the town has had to hire two additional police officers to ensure it can still cover all calls for service.
“We think that it’s fair that this facility coming into our community should participate in assisting the town with the cost of services we provide to them,” Guthrie said.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
Since the state purchased the hospital from a private company in 2022, it has made two payments to the town to offset property tax losses.
“What had been decided through negotiations at that point in time was we would make those payments, which we have done for the past two years,” said Nathan White, chief financial officer of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Even though the town is saddled with new costs connected with the transition and responding to incidents of violence committed by young patients against hospital staff, the 2025 payment is up in the air.
“It was supposed to be in the budget,” said state Sen. Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have to be here.”
An attempt to secure that funding last year failed following an impasse between the New Hampshire House and Senate. This year, the Senate passed a bill to appropriate more money, which would be added to DHHS funds to give Hampstead a payment of $191,000.
Some House lawmakers are skeptical of continuing to provide the offset payments. Local officials said the burden on the town is only going to increase once the state’s new youth detention facility is finished and ready to open on the hospital property.
“In the very near future, they’re going to expand that, so we see a real impact on our town,” Guthrie said.
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