CONCORD — The mayors of Lebanon and Claremont joined Republican Gov. Chris Sununu on Thursday in calling for lawmakers not to cut infrastructure projects for the two cities that are included in the governor’s proposed two-year state budget.

Efforts to clean-up the Westboro Rail Yard in West Lebanon and repair sidewalks and drains in Claremont long have been needed and are unlikely to be completed without state aid, the two mayors said during a press event with Sununu and some of their colleagues at the Statehouse.

“All of the projects that have been put in the governor’s budget, they align with our goals both at the state and local level, and we have tried for many, many years to get this done on our own,” said Claremont Mayor Charlene Lovett, who appeared alongside Lebanon Mayor Sue Prentiss, nonprofit leaders and state lawmakers in the Statehouse. “We just don’t have the resources to do all of the things that we need to do at a local level.”

Sununu last month proposed a two-year budget that includes $52 million in standalone projects across the Granite State.

They include $570,000 for demolition of dilapidated buildings inside the West Lebanon rail yard, $120,000 for sidewalk work in Claremont, $100,000 for energy efficient upgrades at Claremont’s Arrowhead Recreation Area and $30,000 for improvements to Claremont’s visitors center.

But those all appear to be on the chopping block as Democrats in Concord look to divert funds to education and health care.

The House Finance Committee already cut the Claremont projects from its budget, with Lebanon’s funding still in limbo, said state Rep. John Cloutier, D-Claremont.

“They’re worthwhile projects in my opinion but Finance thinks things a little bit differently,” said Cloutier, who is serving his 14th term in the House.

Sununu indicated on Thursday that he’s “nervous” of pending cuts, saying it would be a shame to kill projects intended to increase economic development and aid cash-strapped communities.

“As soon as I sent my budget to the Legislature, I heard the whole thing was going to be cut,” Sununu told reporters. “Let’s put it this way. I take nothing for granted.”

The current funding battle centers around how surplus funds should be spent. Sununu and his Republican allies contend it should go back to communities and nonprofits needing a boost, while high-ranking Democrats want it to alleviate what some consider an education funding shortage.

Democrats now control both chambers of the Legislature. Lovett is a former Republican state representative from Claremont. Prentiss was a Republican but said she became an independent two years ago.

Lebanon’s Democrats are caught in the middle.

The city’s four-member House delegation is advocating for both for the Westboro Rail Yard cleanup and more education funding.

The lawmakers argue that projects such as the rail yard, which are state-owned and can be considered a safety hazard, are different from others Sununu proposes to fund. That’s especially true, they say, because the city is willing to haul away debris from the Westboro site, saving the state roughly $287,700.

“These would be tiny parts of the state budget, and Lebanon has been asking for this for more than 20 years,” said Rep. Richard Abel, D-Lebanon. “This is a state-owned property that is deteriorated and is an environmental problem and an impediment to economic development.”

Rep. Sue Almy, D-Lebanon, said she expects budget writers to balance communities’ needs with those of other stakeholders, even though she intends to continue to advocate for the rail yard.

“The money is badly needed elsewhere,” said Almy, who is serving her 12th term. “We have, as the Democrats, major priorities this year to improve school funding, decrease the local property tax and get more money to places like Manchester and Claremont for their schools.”

“It has really made it difficult to pay for everything else that needs to be done,” she added.

Both Almy and Abel said that they expect only two of Sununu’s projects to make it through the House budget process — the Westboro Rail Yard cleanup and a similar, $620,000 project to tear down a Department of Transportation building in Concord.

However, it will remain up to the House and Senate finance committees to determine their final fate. Both are headed by legislators who have criticized Sununu’s spending priorities, calling them “pet projects” in statements.

Tim Camerato can be reached at tcamerato@ vnews.com or 603-727-3223.