Strafford County commissioners warn of nursing-home funding squeeze after state budget change
May 14, 2026 | Strafford County, New Hampshire
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Commissioners in Strafford County clarified how a statutory “default” budget works and raised concerns about state-level budget changes they say will worsen financial pressure on local nursing homes.
At the start of a discussion of old and new business, the chair said the law provides that if the county delegation fails to adopt a budget, the county commissioners’ proposed budget — not the prior year’s budget — takes effect. “I wanted to straighten that out,” the chair said, noting public confusion about the meaning of a “default” budget.
Commissioners also discussed recent action in the state Senate that, they said, removed $3,000,000 that had been intended to adjust nursing-home rates. “If it’s rolled into rates for the subsequent year, it’ll be then be matched by the federal government,” one commissioner said, describing how the initial $3,000,000 could have produced roughly a $6,000,000 rate adjustment when matched.
The board described the local long-term care sector as strained. “Most of the private sector nursing homes are really in some financial duress,” the chair said, noting closures and bankruptcy among larger chains and citing the recent shutdown of Merriman Homes, a roughly 60-bed facility. Commissioners said consolidation and national chains stepping in are possible outcomes as smaller operators exit the market.
Speakers linked the pressure on nursing homes to broader reductions in state participation in Medicaid and to shifting costs to counties and property taxpayers. “You continue to rely on the property tax solely to support the non-federal share of Medicaid,” the chair said, calling that approach “troublesome at best.”
No formal vote was taken on policy in this session. Commissioners said the matter remains subject to pending legislation at the state level and signaled a need for further coordination with state leaders and local stakeholders.
Next steps: the commission did not announce a formal local action at this meeting; commissioners said they would monitor the legislation and its fiscal effects.
At the start of a discussion of old and new business, the chair said the law provides that if the county delegation fails to adopt a budget, the county commissioners’ proposed budget — not the prior year’s budget — takes effect. “I wanted to straighten that out,” the chair said, noting public confusion about the meaning of a “default” budget.
Commissioners also discussed recent action in the state Senate that, they said, removed $3,000,000 that had been intended to adjust nursing-home rates. “If it’s rolled into rates for the subsequent year, it’ll be then be matched by the federal government,” one commissioner said, describing how the initial $3,000,000 could have produced roughly a $6,000,000 rate adjustment when matched.
The board described the local long-term care sector as strained. “Most of the private sector nursing homes are really in some financial duress,” the chair said, noting closures and bankruptcy among larger chains and citing the recent shutdown of Merriman Homes, a roughly 60-bed facility. Commissioners said consolidation and national chains stepping in are possible outcomes as smaller operators exit the market.
Speakers linked the pressure on nursing homes to broader reductions in state participation in Medicaid and to shifting costs to counties and property taxpayers. “You continue to rely on the property tax solely to support the non-federal share of Medicaid,” the chair said, calling that approach “troublesome at best.”
No formal vote was taken on policy in this session. Commissioners said the matter remains subject to pending legislation at the state level and signaled a need for further coordination with state leaders and local stakeholders.
Next steps: the commission did not announce a formal local action at this meeting; commissioners said they would monitor the legislation and its fiscal effects.
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