CONCORD, N.H. — Free college tuition for New Hampshire’s highest performing high school students, more services for people with developmental disabilities and mental illness, and a new election law attorney are among the items on state agencies’ wish lists for the next two-year state budget.

Budget writers heard agency requests last week as the process of writing the state spending document begins. Republican Gov.-elect Chris Sununu takes office in January and must hand a budget proposal to lawmakers by February. The new budget takes effect July 1.

All told, the budget requests total $12.6 billion over two years, up from the current $11.2 billion biennial budget. That includes state and federal dollars as well as grant money.

“We want to make sure that while being frugal we are putting together the best services for the people of New Hampshire,” Sununu said to kick off the budget process.

The University System of New Hampshire wants to keep the state’s brightest high school students by offering full rides to all valedictorians and salutatorians. Nearly 60 percent of New Hampshire high school students who go to a four-year college leave the state – the highest percentage in the nation, according to federal data.

The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking nearly $100 million more to improve services for some of the state’s most vulnerable citizens. That includes about $13 million for community-based outpatient services for people with mental illness.

Elsewhere, the Department of Corrections needs to increase staffing for the planned opening of a new women’s prison in Concord next fall, and the attorney general’s office wants to hire a full-time attorney for election law complaints.

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