Keegan Steffen

My name is Keegan Steffen, and I am a resident of Somersworth. I am writing to testify in support of HR40 because I believe every child in New Hampshire is constitutionally entitled to a high-quality education, regardless of their zip code. Currently, New Hampshire ranks among the lowest in the nation for state-level support of public education and this is unacceptable. We are forced to carry a % of the cost through local property taxes. This creates a 'zip code destiny' where students in property-poor towns have fewer opportunities than those in wealthy ones. This isn't just unfair; as our courts have REPEATEDLY ruled, it is simply unconstitutional. In our local schools, we have seen a disgusting amount of funding cuts causing 20+ teachers to be laid off in per school district increasing class sizes and exhausting our detrimentally undervalued teachers and school faculty, deferred building maintenance, and cuts to specialized programs. Without restored state funding, our town is faced with the impossible choice of either cutting essential services for children or pricing seniors out of their homes with skyrocketing tax rates. Restoring funding through HR40 is a necessary step toward meeting the state's constitutional obligation. It would provide real property tax relief to residents statewide while ensuring our schools have the resources like teachers, technology, and safe facilities. They need to function lawfully and effectively.