Posted on 09/07/2008 12:26:44 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
The birthing center at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital has seen an increased number of babies born this year. But that seems to be becoming more rare at hospitals across the Granite State.
"I think we are bucking the trend by what we do offer as a small community hospital," says Arlene Patten, of Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital.
According to the U.S. Census bureau, in 2006, New Hampshire had the lowest birth rate in the country with only 42 babies born per every 1,000 women.
Vermont was not far behind at 42.2 babies.
The national average is almost 55 babies per 1,000 women.
"It is a serious concern," says Paul Boucher, of the Greater Lebanon Chamber of Commerce.
Boucher says that few babies will eventually mean a smaller work force. But he says it's a problem already relevant in the Upper Valley. Studies show about 60 percent of college grads move out of New Hampshire. Companies like Timken Aerospace have Now Hiring sign posted out front. Boucher says there is a shortage of manufacturers, nurses, and teachers-- which could mean companies will have to leave the area.
"I remember a meeting when I first became the president of the chamber 9 and a half years ago that Timken said if the issue continues, we might have to relocate to another area where there is a bigger employment base," Boucher says.
Another area that could potentially be affected is the school districts because the cost to educate each child goes up, something the Lebanon School District is already dealing with.
"Particularly at our elementary school, our average cost per pupil has gone up a lot," Superintendent Mike Harris says.
The Lebanon School District has seen a drop in enrollment of about 10 percent recently. With fixed costs remaining the same-- the price per pupil goes up.
"Our average cost per elementary student is about $18,000 (a year). That is very, very high," Harris says. "The high school and the junior high are about $10,000, or $11,000."
Both Harris and Boucher say that one of the biggest factors likely fueling the trend-- a lack of affordable housing in our region.
cool, lets send them some illegal aliens waiting to drop their anchor babies and screw with their budget surplus....
Cheers!
Does not sound like the sort of jobs a load of smuggled “chulos” can take care of.
Euro zone
In a related story from Why Men Run Away Magazine........... In areas heavy with liberal feminist majorities stores report a severe battery shortage.
LOL. Just what I was thinking. They need some truckloads of illegals to prime the pump.
Low birth rate often points to a high abort rate.
Same demography as in Russia, Scandinavia and the Baltic Republics. Must have something to do with all those birch trees!
Illegals must not like the weather.
Their states will be fine as long as they dont bring in illegals or Liberal Free Trade Globalists pad up the H1-B visas.
Business wont leave, they will just have to pay the market wage on labor. Of course, usually those who push “free market” are the first to use government to alter it
VT and NH will have fine economies...not like states that pander to illegal aliens or nutty gloablists
Yep. That'll fix things.
Blacks and Latinos are not as common in VT + NH as in other parts of the country.
Blacks and Latinos are not as common in VT + NH as in other parts of the country.
“The Dems aborting themselves out of existence.”
I would not be so sanguine. The low birth rates of the whites currently living in VT and NH may mean that the states will gradually become more Hispanic, and for NH this may mean turning a once red state blue.
bttt
bttt
Property taxes are why housing is unaffordable. Statewide property taxes were implemented by court order to pay for, get this, education.
Now thanks to the taxes, there are no kids to educate. But the money keeps rolling in. Hmmm.
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