Issue Position: Taxes

Issue Position

Local Property Taxpayers Are Hit When The State Makes Spending Cuts

The mayors of three New Hampshire towns are upset that the state of New Hampshire is raising municipal property taxes and are asking that every town and city in the state to join together against recent actions by the state.

When the state decreases its support of pensions and reduces its educational assistance which supports children who qualify for free and reduced lunch in our communities, local communities are forced to pick up the tab and therefore, raise property taxes.

Nashua Mayor Jim Dochess, Rochester Mayor Caroline McCarley, and Franklin Mayor Ken Merrifield have drafted a letter that says the state "is doing a disservice by imposing additional costs on the municipalities that are responsible for providing quality public services." It suggests that the state adopt a long term plan that provides relief to the cities and towns that bear the burden of paying these costs."

This is a major reason why I'm running for State Representative. When the state makes cuts to these services, the towns are forced to readjust budgets and either make cuts to vital services to cover for these reductions, or raise property taxes.

Whatever the town decides to do, it puts further strain on town budgets and taxpayers.

As a State Representative, I will fight to insure that when the state reduces spending, it doesn't have a detrimental effect on our town budgets and our property tax payers.

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