Brianna Belisle

My name is Brianna Belisle, and I am writing in opposition to House Bill 1649. I am an employee of a non-profit organization that works directly to protect our working forest and farm land of New Hampshire. HB 1649 would limit the ability of local governments to support nonprofits that are often protecting new and exisiting lands. As a nonprofit employee, I see firsthand how partnerships with municipalities help keep our lands open to recreation, forestry and agriculutral operations, and education. Removing this flexibility would reduce the opportunity to conserve and steward new and existing lands throughout the state. Even small amounts of local funding can make a meaningful difference and often help nonprofits, like the one I work for, in securing additional private funding. Donated funds often help pay salaries, like mine, which help to ensure town owned and private lands in every town across the state are continuing to be protected from environmental degredation. Local officials and voters understand their communities best and should be trusted to decide how to responsibly invest public funds to serve the public good. HB 1649 takes away that local decision-making and risks weakening vital community investment in our beautiful lands. For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to oppose HB 1649. Thank you for your time and consideration.