Concord Ledger

Monadnock Region communities received about $2.2 million in additional revenue this year, due to a state tax on meals, hotels and vehicle rentals.

Gov. Chris Sununu (R) tweeted Dec. 29, sharing a graphic depicting taxpayer savings and the amount returned to cities and towns from Meals and Rooms tax revenue sharing. 

“We cut the Meals & Rooms tax to its lowest level in over a decade, lowered the statewide property tax, and yet we still sent more money back to cities and towns. We downshifted cash, not costs — that's a win for our citizens,” Sununu wrote in his tweet. 

According to a report by the Sentinel Source, this comes as New Hampshire lawmakers added a provision to the state budget over the summer designating 30% of Meals and Rooms tax revenue for municipalities. This week, cities and towns received $100 million, which is 45% more than was received last fiscal year. 

The state’s Meals and Rooms tax was established in 1967 and applies to purchases from food-service establishments, hotel stays and vehicle rentals. Earlier this year, state Republican lawmakers reduced the tax rate by half of a percent to 8.5%. This reduction went into effect in October. 

Supporters, including Sununu, welcomed the news of the additional revenue Monday, saying it will help communities keep property taxes in check, according to the Sentinel Source.