Policy Research Shop

Research Reports

We are committed to providing accurate research that responds to the needs of elected policymakers and their legislative staff throughout the year. We typically produce reports that are 5-15 pages in length with opportunities for follow-up research upon request. Our goal is to provide useful information in a clear format and to deliver these products in a timely manner so that they are useful during legislative deliberation.

Our researchers examine emerging issues of concern that are relevant to legislative discussions in both New Hampshire and Vermont. These topics are selected through a consultative process with policy stakeholders. We make every effort to include policy experts from both states in this process.

2007-2008 ACADEMIC YEAR REPORTS

Poverty Reduction Strategies for New Orleans, Louisiana - Poverty is a persistent problem in New Orleans. Pre-Katrina figures reveal that a large percentage of the city's population lived below the poverty line. The storm has only exacerbated the conditions as well as the racial pattern of who experiences poverty. Many policy makers are looking to implement changes to alleviate the destitute conditions of post-Katrina New Orleans. Poverty is a complex issue affected by many variables. Poverty rate is dependent upon access to affordable and quality education, healthcare, housing, childcare, transportation, financial services, and food and consumer products. New policies that consider these variables should be implemented in New Orleans to effectively reduce the number of impoverished people. New Orleans is not the only city in the U.S. that is faced with poverty issues. Many other Southern cities, such as Houston and Savannah, are actively trying to reduce their poverty rates. Based on our evaluation of these poverty alleviation programs as well as efforts elsewhere, we have arrived at some policy recommendations. The best policy options for New Orleans seek to provide financial incentives, increase access to various resources, and include innovative elements within a large comprehensive city program.
New Hampshire Transportation Funding Plan - Over the next ten years, New Hampshire faces a $1.74 billion deficit in its plan to build and repair state highways and bridges according to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. In order to avoid delays in construction and potentially hazardous transportation infrastructure conditions, New Hampshire must improve its returns on existing revenue sources or seek out additional sources. A properly maintained transportation system is critical to the safety and prosperity of New Hampshire's residents. This paper analyzes in detail nine potential revenue sources that New Hampshire could draw upon to pay for the $1.74 billion deficit. Among our major findings:

Lead Poisoning in New Hampshire - Lead poisoning has been linked to numerous behavioral problems and health conditions among children with elevated lead blood levels. This report first focuses on methods that have been used for primary prevention and then gives several policy recommendations that can be implemented in New Hampshire. Methods for primary prevention include:

Small Town Traffic Congestion - While rural areas might not be known for their traffic, congestion is a significant problem in the downtown districts of many small New England towns. The towns of Norwich, VT and Hanover, NH have had to deal with traffic congestion in their downtowns. In Hanover, downtown congestion appears to have stabilized, and traffic levels have actually decreased in the last few years as gas prices have increased. In Norwich, on the other hand, the problem seems to be getting worse with a projected increase in traffic of 40 percent.

Mental Health in New Hampshire Correctional Facilities - In response to increased awareness, both nationally and in New Hampshire, of the mental health needs of prison inmates this report aims to provide New Hampshire policymakers with a better understanding of the status, challenges, and policy options New Hampshire faces with regard to mental health care. The information presented here follows two tracks: cost and quality. With regard to cost, this report covers the current costs, potential areas of improvement, and available policy options particularly regarding opportunities for cost reduction. The current costs of providing mental health care to inmates are high due to recidivism, the loss of Medicaid for inmates while in prison, expensive psychotropic drugs, an expensive contract with Dartmouth Medical School (DMS), and a growing elderly population in prisons. Policy options to help reduce costs of mental health care for inmates include:

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Norwich and Pandemic Influenza Planning - Planning for a potential pandemic influenza event is a process being undertaken at all levels of government in states and international agencies throughout the world. When developing its own influenza preparedness plan, Norwich should use the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) plan entitled “Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan,” which takes the guidelines presented in the WHO influenza report and alters them so they fit Vermont. Norwich pandemic influenza preparation should fall into three main areas: 1) communication, 2) combative measures to be used during a pandemic, and 3) coordination with the private sector. Overall, any and all planning for a potential pandemic influenza event should aim to limit the population affected by the virus, reduce mortality, reduce the spread of the virus, and reduce the economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic within Norwich.
Healthy New Hampshire 2010 - Healthy New Hampshire 2010 was published in 2001 by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services in order to establish baselines and set goals for health indicators in the state. Eleven broad public health focus areas related to disease prevention and health promotion were chosen by the authors of the original report based on impact and amenability to intervention. These focus areas are as follows:

Within each focus area, several objectives were chosen to guide interventions and policy development to improve the overall health of New Hampshire's residents. This report discusses the eleven focus areas of Healthy New Hampshire 2010 in more detail, comparing baseline data to the most currently available updated information for each objective. This report also provides potential explanations for the observed changes.

Sustainability in Hanover - The manifestations of global warming and climate change can be seen in cities, towns, and villages all over the world, although their specific effects depend on a number of local geographical, political, social, and economic factors. Local governments are in a unique position to address the main contributors of greenhouse gas emissions that drive global climate change: energy use, transportation, waste, and land use. Land use, zoning, building codes, waste disposal, service delivery, and management of schools, parks, and recreational areas all affect a municipality's energy inputs and outputs. Local governments can also influence the culture of sustainability in a municipality through education and outreach that influence citizen energy use, consumption patterns, and consumer choices. This project has two main goals. The first is to raise awareness about actions that governments, businesses, and individuals can take to reduce the threat of global warming through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and to guide decision makers, business owners, and homeowners in Hanover toward policies, strategies, and actions that can make Hanover more sustainable. The second is to create a resource manual that improves the town's sustainability, helps manage current sustainability practices, and provides feedback on policies not currently pursued. This resource manual will have three main focuses: 1) assessing Hanover's current practices, 2) assessing outside practices that could be implemented in Hanover, and 3) providing policy recommendations based on the assessments. Hanover is making strides with regard to sustainability, but more can be done. Hanover can learn from smart practices in similar communities, encourage more community participation and education, and strengthen the relationship between the Town and Dartmouth College.View Presentation
Affordable Housing in Hanover, New Hampshire - This policy brief explores problems and policy solutions regarding affordable housing in both Hanover and New Hampshire as a whole. The current standard for affordable living, set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is that a family or individual should pay no more than 30 percent of their total income on housing in order to best afford other basic necessities such as food, transportation, and health care. While Dartmouth College and the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) remain the largest businesses in the Upper Valley area, most employees cannot afford the cost of living in Hanover and are forced to live in neighboring towns that are shouldering the “affordable housing burden.” While the Town of Hanover and Dartmouth College are working to address this growing need, as seen with proposals at Rivercrest and Grasse Road, there are other options that may complement and strengthen already existing efforts. Inclusionary zoning and Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) may serve to make Hanover a more affordable place to live for lower to middle-income households.
Hanover's Rural Study Group - With continuing population growth and changing land use patterns, rural character has become an important topic of interest for the Town of Hanover. Hanover residents have overwhelmingly responded that preserving the rural character of the town is important, and since 1974 the town has released reports to define just what rural character is. Land use and development patterns, and their effects on rural character, are therefore of interest to many Hanover residents. In May 2007 the Hanover Planning Board launched the Rural Study Group “to focus on the natural resource underpinnings of future land use and regulation in rural Hanover within the context of the 2003 Master Plan.” While many groups had existed previously to study rural character in Hanover, this was the first group to study it specifically in context of the new master plan. This Rockefeller Center Policy Research Shop report seeks to provide recommendations for how the process of review for formal mechanisms to protect rural character can best operate and address the needs of relevant stakeholders. We conducted a series of phone interviews using a standard questionnaire to examine the issues of stakeholder representation and general clarity of procedure in the Rural Study Group. The respondents have been kept anonymous.
Managing Municipal Waste in New Hampshire - Current in-state landfill capacity is adequate for the next 25 years, when New Hampshire will have to begin the potentially expensive endeavor of exporting waste, according to New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services. To extend the lifetime of in-state solid waste disposal capacity, New Hampshire must more effectively reduce the volume of solid waste disposed of in landfills or incinerators. Reducing the amount of solid waste generated (source reduction), augmenting the state's disposal capacity through the construction of new landfills, or increasing the recycling rate on a district-by-district basis are three approaches that can address solid waste management problems in New Hampshire. This report focuses primarily on the third of the aforementioned options.View Presentation
Cellulosic Ethanol - Cellulosic ethanol is a renewable liquid biofuel that has emerged as a prospective alternative transportation fuel source with significant environmental implications. Sources of cellulosic biomass from which ethanol can be made include, but are not limited to: agricultural wastes such as corn stover, cereal straws, and sugarcane bagasse; grasses; woods; and plant wastes from industrial processes, such as sawdust and paper pulp. No cellulosic ethanol is currently being produced in the United States, but ethanol is being made from corn. The production of cellulosic ethanol releases less greenhouse gases than does the production of corn-based ethanol. It also does not put a strain on the nation's food supply. Ethanol from cellulose is not yet cost competitive with corn-based ethanol, and it will likely be three to ten years before the industry could be economically viable in Vermont. Both the state and the federal government have programs that could help fund a cellulosic ethanol plant, but none are currently being utilized. If cellulosic ethanol becomes economically viable in Vermont, there is the potential to produce approximately 140 million gallons annually.
New Hampshire Broadband Access - In spite of the many uses and likely economic benefits of broadband Internet access, several geographic and demographic factors suggest that New Hampshire's broadband Internet accessibility is not as prevalent as more populated and urban states throughout the country. In particular, New Hampshire's more rural areas remain underserved as roughly 30 percent of New Hampshire citizens do not have access to broadband internet service. This report first introduces the reader to broadband Internet access' capabilities and then evaluates other states' projects that were designed to overcome similar barriers when promoting broadband access. View Presentation
Establishing an Office of Personal Financial Education - House Bill 1462 would establish an Office of Personal Financial Education in New Hampshire's Treasury Department. If passed, the bill would provide financial literacy resources to New Hampshire's citizens and equip the State Treasurer with the authority to coordinate current efforts to improve financial literacy within state. This policy brief aims to explain the issues surrounding financial literacy and the policy options currently available to address them.View Presentation
Riparian Zone Protection in Vermont - Riparian zones play a crucial role in improving water quality by filtering pollution from surface runoff before it can enter lakes, streams, and other bodies of water. These areas are becoming increasingly degraded by human activities, such as construction and the clearing of vegetation. While many individual towns in Vermont do have regulations protecting riparian zones, the protections at the state level only apply to large-scale developments, leaving out the majority of residential and business construction. This report examines the current state of riparian zone protection in Vermont and presents several policy options that Vermont could implement to further this protection. View Presentation

2006-2007 ACADEMIC YEAR REPORTS

Next Generation Initiative: Career Education in Vermont - This report identifies the potential benefit of career education, highlights the current state of career education programs in Vermont, and identifies programs in other states that could be used as models for developing a Vermont career education plan. Furthermore, this report explores various funding options available for these programs. Finally, the report proposes a collection of best practices for the Commission and the state to use in more effectively implementing career education for elementary and middle-school aged children.
Scrap Tire Management: A Case Study of Vermont - In 1990, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that there were nearly one billion scrap tires in stockpiles across the nation. The most recent data of Vermont, reported by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2001, indicates that as many as 200,000 scrap tires are stored in stockpiles. Such stockpiles pose serious environmental and health threats which could have severe long term effects if not properly addressed. To confront those threats appropriately, the state should consider developing more effective strategies for the collection and use of scrap tires. The rubber from scrap tires has a variety of constructive uses, such as a physical resource in civil engineering, thus stockpiling scrap tires is a problem not only due to the pollution it represents, but also because of the productivity waste it involves. This brief summarizes the threat posed by scrap tire stock piles, describes the status quo for scrap tires processing, and discusses policy options the state may wish to consider in order to improve the current status of scrap tire management in Vermont. The information presented in this report is synthesized from reports on scrap tires and drawn from conversations with professionals involved in different stages of scrap tire processing in both the private and the public sector.
Street Trees: A New Hampshire Primer - The benefits provided to communities by urban forestry programs, specifically street tree planting and maintenance, appear to outweigh the costs in all cases studied. As such, street tree planting and management programs may be viable options for communities to consider incorporating if they are currently seeking to revitalize downtown village business districts and residential neighborhoods, encourage pedestrian traffic and walkable neighborhoods, or create green infrastructure. Depending upon the site and scope of the street tree program, as well as physical design, street trees can provide functions consistent with the aims of safe, healthy, pedestrian friendly and aesthetically pleasing communities. However, many obstacles may impede the successful design or implementation of a street tree program. Foremost of these concerns is the budget required to create and maintain a successful program that produces results valued by the public. A secondary concern is often lack of public awareness of street trees and the benefits they can provide as well as a lack of public support. Communities investigating street tree programs may be best served by exploring the costs and benefits of these programs as measured by the degree to which they match community goals.
First Responder Communications and Interoperability in Vermont - This report seeks to assess the status of first responder communications and interoperability in Vermont and describes the potential of interoperable equipment to assist in responding to natural and man-made disasters. We interviewed eight communications experts and local officials throughout the state and assessed the interoperability of equipment at three potential security threats: the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, the United States – Canadian Border and the Burlington International Airport.
Assessing Pre-Kindergarten Education in Vermont - In 2004, education expenditures constituted an average of 21.4 percent of state budgets nationwide. As the largest single expenditure for most state governments, public education programs come under scrutiny for their effectiveness and quality and are constantly adapting to fit the needs of constituents as well as federal standards. In order to provide the best possible education to their students, 40 states currently fund some form of pre-kindergarten education. Four of the ten remaining states have federal Head Start programs, while six have no pre-kindergarten program. Vermont currently implements preschool programming through the state-funded Early Education Initiative and Public Preschool Partnerships as well as through a number of federal grants and initiatives. This report compiles documented potential benefits and drawbacks of preschool educational programming and examines the current state of Vermont's pre-kindergarten programs. It also assesses policy options of maintaining the status quo versus expanding the current programs as well as the general benefits and drawbacks of means-tested and universal preschool education programs.
The Use of Biodiesel in Vermont - For reasons ranging from environmental health to the stability and long-term viability of petroleum as a fuel source, exploring alternative energy has emerged as an important issue for the state of Vermont. One aspect of this issue is the prospective wide scale use of biodiesel as a replacement for conventional petroleum diesel (petrodiesel). Although supply and cost constraints mean that biodiesel cannot currently be used to replace petrodiesel completely, it can be blended with petroleum diesel in order to reduce fossil fuel use. This report investigates various environmental, economic, and feasibility issues pertaining to the use of biodiesel in the state of Vermont. It also identifies a number of policy options for the state of Vermont relating to the use of biodiesel.
Exploring Measures to Prevent and Detect Medicaid Fraud - At present, more than 20 percent of total state spending nationally is dedicated to Medicaid, making it the second largest item in most state budgets after education. As funds become limited and health care needs expand, states must search for ways to cut costs while still providing quality services. With funding avenues exhausted, states seek to rein in costs by restructuring their Medicaid programs to produce greater efficiency, which includes initiating preventative measures against Medicaid fraud. Reducing the amount of Medicaid funds that go to fraudulent claims will increase the amount of money available in state budgets for health care funding and other needs. This report examines measures to prevent and detect Medicaid fraud, such as the implementation of more stringent enrollment controls and increased use of Information Technology (IT) for data analysis, and identifies sources for the expansion of fraud prevention programs in New Hampshire.
Medicaid: Providing for Children in Foster Care - New Hampshire provides substantial Medicaid funding for children in foster care yet often still struggles with identifying and treating foster children's mental and physical health problems. This report highlights three areas of concern regarding the provision of Medicaid services to foster children in the Granite State: ensuring a comprehensive health assessment upon entering foster care, guaranteeing that foster children's mental health needs are met, and offering timely and satisfactory dental care. The report provides a number of policy options for improving and enhancing Medicaid benefits for foster children in New Hampshire, many of which are based on effective policies from other states.
Enhancing Retirement Saving in New Hampshire - In New Hampshire and throughout the United States, a significant portion of the population is not actively saving for retirement. Almost half of New Hampshire workers ages 21 to 64 are not enrolled in an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan, making them more likely to run out of money at some point during their retirement years. This report presents reasons why people do not save enough for their retirement, highlights existing savings promotion efforts at the employer, state, and federal level, and offers policy options aimed at enhancing retirement saving in the state.
MTBE Presence in Groundwater - Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) has replaced lead as an octane enhancer frequently added to gasoline in the United States to increase engine combustion efficiency and reduce tailpipe emissions. However, increased use of MTBE has resulted in extensive groundwater contamination because of its soluble properties making it costly and difficult to remove from the groundwater. Understaffing of cleanup programs in both New Hampshire and Vermont appear to be a barrier in completing cleanup at leaking underground storage tank sites.

2005-2006 ACADEMIC YEAR REPORTS

Dealing with Rising Medicaid Costs - States across the country are faced with the challenge of developing effective and efficient policy solutions to ensure the provision of quality Medicaid services despite escalating costs. This three-part report on Medicaid in New Hampshire and Vermont focuses on Long-Term Care for the Elderly, Prescription Drug Cost-Containment, and Preventative Care and Obesity.
Funding Brownfield Redevelopment - This report examines federal and state programs used to encourage and fund brownfield redevelopment and looks at the status of brownfields within both Vermont and New Hampshire in order to discuss potential actions that may facilitate future brownfield redevelopment.
Roles for the Private Sector in State Parks Systems - At the request of the NH Commission to Study the State Parks System, two PRS students and a graduate student conducted a policy analysis on the roles for the private sector in managing state parks. The three traveled to Concord on numerous occasions to meet with commission members, attend committee meetings, and to present their findings.
Career and Technical Education Participation in Vermont - Three students from the PRS traveled to Montpelier on Wednesday, March 15th, to testify before a joint hearing of the Vermont House Education and Institutions Committees. They presented their findings of an analysis of career and technical education enrollment in Vermont. The group gathered data on student enrollment patterns and program offerings across the state as well as a variety of demographic, geographic, and socio-economic variables. The report concludes, “three factors—commute time, available curriculum options, and student academic performance—all affect the rate at which students participate in technical education programs.”
Renewable Portfolio Standards in Energy Policy: A Policy Analysis for the State of New Hampshire - At the request of the NH Legislature, two PRS students and a graduate student conducted a policy analysis on Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) in energy policy. An RPS is a policy mandate that a given proportion of power supplied by retail electricity providers be derived from approved renewable sources. The study provides background information on RPS policy as well as lessons learned from other states that have implemented such policies. The three traveled to Concord on April 5th to present their findings to the NH House Science, Technology and Energy Committee.
No Child Left Behind - Through a survey of Vermont superintendents, this report examines the impact of NCLB and high-stakes on the curriculum priorities in Vermont. While more research is needed to fully understand the impact of NCLB in the state, the report finds that "despite state standards in non-tested subject areas, the imposition of high-stakes testing appears to cause school districts to prioritize tested subjects over non-tested subjects."
First Responder Communications and Interoperability in New Hampshire and Vermont - With the support of the Institute for Security Technology Studies at Dartmouth College, two PRS students conducted an analysis of first responder communications in NH and VT. The reports seek to assess the status of first responder communications and interoperability in the states and the relationship of interoperable communications to achieving statewide homeland security goals. To do this, current research into first responder communication and interoperability was aggregated along with evaluations of each state's communications. Personal interviews were conducted with state and local homeland security officials and first responders, including those from police and/or fire services in four Vermont municipalities. The quality of first responder communication systems can be examined in three dimensions, including the technology behind communications devices, multi-disciplinary/multi-jurisdictional interoperability, and training, community outreach, and education.

2004-2005 ACADEMIC YEAR REPORTS

Dealing with Rising Medicaid Costs - Medicaid represents a significant cost to New Hampshire and Vermont, and these costs continue to rise. This research report examines the major factors driving these cost increases and the options available for containing these costs within this federally-controlled program.
Exploring Energy Policy - Energy has become a central part of policy discussions in Vermont and New Hampshire. As prices remain high in the two states compared to the rest of the country and end of large contracts are in sight, this past session generated a variety of questions from lawmakers looking for information to guide decisions on energy policy and the impacts of those choices in the long term.

If you are an elected policymaker in New Hampshire or Vermont and are interesting in making a research request, please call us at 603-646-2229 or email us at Policy.Research@Dartmouth.edu. Should you have questions, or other inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.