Karen Langley reports in the Concord Monitor on the latest lawsuit against the latest state budget; this time over municipal pensions.

The state for years had paid 35 percent of the employer contribution to the New Hampshire Retirement System for those employees, but the current budget reduced that portion to 30 percent this year and 25 percent next year. Citing testimony from the retirement system, the suit claims the change will cost local governments $9 million this year and $18 million next year.

Since firefighters, the police and teachers are required to participate in the retirement system, increasing the portion local governments must pay amounts to an unfunded mandate, which has been unconstitutional since 1985, said Judy Silva, acting director of legal services and government affairs for the New Hampshire Municipal Association, the advocacy branch of the Local Government Center.

The municipal association organized the lawsuit and facilitated its funding by 168 cities and towns, seven counties, and 119 school districts and administrative units. Along with the city of Concord, it names as plaintiffs Belknap County and Mascenic Regional School District, based in New Ipswich. It seeks status as a class-action suit.