N.H. Lawmakers Come Close to Accord on Aid

By Mary Ann Zehr

The New Hampshire House and Senate last week came to enough of a consensus on how to resolve the state's education funding crisis that some observers were predicting schools would be able to continue operations when their new fiscal year begins July 1. Such an outcome has not seemed at all certain lately.

Both chambers passed their own plans for paying for education and put them in one piece of legislation for consideration by a conference committee. The versions have in common a statewide property tax and other, smaller taxes, including ones on cigarettes and real estate transfers. But they also have their share of differences. The Senate bill contains a capital-gains tax, while the House measure does not, for example.

The House plan would raise $808 million for education; the...