In Response to Rep. Griffin

 A review of multiple sources shows that the ranking of NH taxes compared to other states varies depending on how it is calculated. In the letter criticized by Rep. Griffin, the calculation used overall taxes, both state and local (property) taxes, which places NH, correctly, in the middle of all states (US Census Bureau). Moreover, sources agree that NH has the highest property tax rate per capita in the country.

The more important question, however,  is not where NH ranks but how are our representatives handling state finances? Our state is now running in deficit with diminishing federal subsidies. Yet our representatives voted for expansion of the EFA (voucher) program, elimination of interest and dividend taxes, and lower business taxes, putting us in more dire straits. These short-sighted decisions can be reversed by competent leadership – returning revenue, without income taxes and without hurting business interests as there is no proven relationship between lower business taxes and business growth (NH Fiscal Policy Institute).

 The scary alternatives are higher property taxes or fewer services and infrastructure funds. Cuts have already affected childcare, affordable housing, and health insurance. Support the warrants (Town #29, School #7) that challenge poor state decisions. We need government that works for us.

 Ellen Anderson

Do Your Job!

Gerry Griffin's letter last month clarified for me how our current representatives think.  He suggested that Democratic arguments for fairness and good financial stewardship are a ruse to push for an income tax. This is not remotely true.

What we want is for the state to meet its obligations and get its greedy paws off our local taxes. Repeal recent changes to Business Taxes and the Interest & Dividend Tax. Limit vouchers to those who really need them. Reverse the downshifting of accountability. That will do.

What has become clear is that the Republican-dominated state legislature has no interest in balancing the books except by further pilfering of property taxpayers' pockets and ever increasing user fees. They appear to lack the desire, competency and creativity to solve real problems, which the state assuredly has. The best they can come up with is ideas like $50 bike registration fees!

New Boston needs representation that has our interests at heart. Representation that invests in our community. Representation that believes we are all stewards for future generations.

Pete Ryder

What will happen to School Warrant Article 7 ?

 It was instructive and encouraging to attend the School Warrant Deliberative Session on February 3rd. The school is doing a remarkable job of keeping costs down, despite the Republican-led state government repeatedly reneging on its promises and obligations to share funding with local governments, thereby forcing local property taxes to rise. Our Representative's solution? A state-mandated cap on school budgets. This from a General Court led by Libertarians and Free-Staters. Fortunately, that bill failed despite the support of our three Representatives. Meanwhile, Concord hands out our money to anyone who has a school-age child, regardless of how wealthy they are. No matter which account the money comes from, it is effectively being taken from our public schools, and it is almost exclusively (91%) going to wealthy parents who are ALREADY sending their children to private schools. And who knows what they actually do with the money because they are not required to report how it's spent. Vote for Article 7 in the School Warrant; then see what our three Representatives do. As they did once before, you can be sure they will ignore the will of the people they supposedly represent.

Remember how they voted when you vote in November.

Dick Backus

Citizen-initiated Warrants

NB citizens have placed two warrant articles worthy of your consideration on the March 10 ballot. Article 29 on the town ballot asks our reps in Concord to stop shifting onto property taxpayers expenses that were once paid by the State, like local employee pensions, county nursing home funding, special education costs, and the big one: public education funding. Our State legislature has chosen to lay over 70% of the burden of public education expenses onto local property taxpayers. You won’t find another state in the country where that load is greater.

At the same time, Article 7 on the school ballot seeks to rein in the unruly private education voucher program. The current two-year cost estimate is $120 million, 20 million bucks overbudget. Remember the governor’s warning to towns last year about tightening belts? How is it that she signed a bill to double this program, which is now drawing its excess from the State’s Rainy Day Fund? Does that sound like responsible governance to you?

Vote “YES” on School No. 7 and Town No. 29. Tell our reps in Concord to stop breaking funding promises to towns and apply fiscal responsibility to an already questionable use of public funds.

Teri Harkins