...town by town

[fatlazyless]

So, town by town, which ones actually get the New Hampshire Advantage? Today's September 23 www.laconiadailysun.com has a front page article on it. Comparing the Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront towns of Alton and Gilford to their inland neighboring towns of Barnstead and Belmont. With most all services being provided at the local level, and little support coming from the state to the town, the local spending is all about the local property tax base. This article shows how and why some towns have it, and other do not by comparing Alton to Barnstead, and Gilford to Belmont.

Can some helpfull reader do me a favor and post the article here. It is a pdf.

[jkjoshuatree]

Never heard of it...

[IslandRadio]

Here it is....

The N.H. Advantage? Some towns can spend twice as much
as comparably populated neighbor & still have lower tax rate

By Michael Kitch
THE LACONIA DAILY SUN

LACONIA — In the Lakes Region, the “New Hampshire Advantage” amounts to abundant waterfront property and seasonal residents, which are reflected in higher assessed valuations, much larger annual budgets and lower tax rates.

With the delivery of government services primarily organized through hundreds of small townships — with relatively little money trickling down from state government — New Hampshire has built a system that enables some towns to spend literally twice as much as comparable neighboring towns and yet tax their residents at a lower rate.

Comparing two pairs of neighboring towns — Alton and Barnstead and Gilford and Belmont — with comparable populations illustrates the point. In 2009, the estimated populations of Alton and Barnstead were 5,144 and 4,622 respectively and of Gilford and Belmont 7,429 and 7,274. But, the topography of the towns differs markedly.

The 19.3-square miles of water represent 23-percent of the area of Alton while in Barnstead the 2-square-miles of inland water amounts to just 4-percent of the town. Likewise, 27-percent of the area of Gilford consists of 14.7-squaremiles of water while in Belmont the 1.8-square-miles of water represents less than 6-percent of the total area.

The impact of waterfront reflects itself in differences in the number and value of housing units. The towns with extensive waterfront have a higher proportion of housing units,many owned or occupied by seasonal residents, relative to their populations than their landlocked neighbors.

According to data compiled by the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning, in 2008 there were 4,199 housing units in Alton, or one for every 1.2 residents compared to 2,464 homes in Barnstead, or one for every 1.9 residents. There were 4,875 housing units in Gilford, one per 1.5 residents, and 3,503 in Belmont, one for every two residents. Waterfront property not only carries a high value but also, if seasonally occupied, imposes fewer costs on the town.

These disparities are expressed in widely divergent assessed valuation of the towns. In 2009, the total assessed valuation of Alton was $1,557-billion, almost three times that of Barnstead’s $545.5-million. At $1,547-billion, the assessed valuation of Gilford was twice that of Belmont’s $724.6-million. The total property tax rates — $11.83 per $1,000 of assessed value in Alton, $18.39 in Barnstead, $17.37 in Gilford and $19.69 in Belmont — vary accordingly.

However, the greatest disparities are in expenditures. The annual budgets and tax commitments of Alton and Gilford in 2010 were almost twice as large as those of Barnstead and Belmont.

In Alton, municipal appropriations were $7,075,746, nearly three-an-a-half times the $2,021,644 appropriated in Barnstead. At the same time, Alton appropriated $11,623,952 for schools compared to $6,087,478 in Barnstead. (The two townships share the same high school and contribute approximately the same number of students.) Excluding the county tax assessment, Alton raised $16,077,589 in property taxes,or $3,125 per capita, compared to $7,942,022 in Barnstead, or $1,718 per capita — 45-percent less.

In Gilford, the municipal budget was $7,411,891 compared to $5,063,845 in Belmont while Gilford appropriated $17,108,448 for education and Belmont $6,6538,071. Discounting the the county assessment, Gilford raised $24,258,525 in property taxes, or $3,265 per capita, while Belmont raised $13,041,714 or $1,792 per capita — 45-percent less.

Of course, in the waterfront towns the per capita tax burden born by the resident population is effectively reduced by the share born by non-resident property taxpayers.

Without accounting precisely for all the differences in spending, Alton and Gilford are spending considerably more on both municipal services and public schools than their inland counterparts.

In Alton, the budgets for personnel, police, public works, parks and recreation and solid waste are approximately double those of Barnstead while the town also spends more on its fire service as well as functions like planning, assessing and code enforcement. Likewise, much of the difference between Gilford and Belmont consists of expenditures for personnel, police, fire and highways and police.

The differences in education spending between the town appear less marked, but comparisons are difficult because while Alton and Barnstead each have K-8 schools they jointly own and operate Prospect Mountain High School. Likewise, Belmont partners with Canterbury in the Shaker Regional School District. And Gilford accepts Gilmanton students, on a tuition basis, at their high school.

Student to teacher ratios range from 10.9 in Barnstead, to 11.8 in Alton, to 11 in Gilford, to 13.3 Belmont. At $15,237 Gilford has the highest cost per pupil followed by Alton at $11,950, Belmont at $11,380 and Barnstead at $11,285. Gilford also posts the highest average teacher salary at $58,154 trailed by Belmont at $55,679, Alton at $48,441 and Barnstead at $42,694.

These disparities are mitigated somewhat since during the summer months, the populations of Alton and Gilford are swollen by the return of seasonal residents and the appearance of visiting vacationers, which adds to the expenses of waterfront towns.

Nevertheless, the relative abundance of valuable and taxable real estate, a significant share of it owned by non-residents who do not vote, appears to sufficiently ease the pressure on resident property taxpayers to enable these towns to spend relatively more on public services.

Perhaps in that sense taxation without representation is also an element of the “New Hampshire Advantage.”

[Argie's Wife]

Was that an article or an editorial?

Seriously...

Perhaps in that sense taxation without representation is also an element of the “New Hampshire Advantage.”

Does this writer not know the laws? The local government in a town (select board, school board, zoning board, planning board, etc.) shouldn't be made "the bad guy" because of the way the state laws are written.

One person; one vote.

When Joe Snowbird's taxes goes up, so do mine. When Joe Snowbird complains we don't have enough street lights and there's no curbside pickup for trash and why isn't Alton more like [insert city in MA, NJ, NY, CT, etc. here] I think - "thank God because I moved here to get away from that and don't want to pay more taxes for it!"

And let's take those decisions made by the voters a bit further - what about the warrant articles that have to do with zoning or money to be raised for human services? What does Joe Snowbird really know about those programs and the community that he is living in for 3-4 months out of the year?

In no way do I feel animosity towards the folks with seasonal homes here but a slanted article called "news", if the editor was honest, should have ran under the section called "opinion" because not all the facts - such as the state laws - are not even mentioned. Was it really a slow news day?

Not mentioned are the benefits Joe Snowbird receives from the town budget that's passed; with lots of care to great firework displays on July 4, extra landscaping, plenty of summertime activities for people of all ages via the Parks and Rec department, extra police and fire coverage needed for the summer, roads in good repair, extra waste management needed (landfill), and so much more...

And why Barnstead was picked for this comparison is beyond me. Barnstead is not on Lake Winni.... :rolleye1:


EDITED TO ADD: The reference to "Joe Snowbird" is just my short way of saying "the average seasonal resident" - it's not derogatory and I don't mean for it to be... Thanks!

[RLW]

Was that an article or an editorial?

Seriously...



Does this writer not know the laws? The local government in a town (select board, school board, zoning board, planning board, etc.) shouldn't be made "the bad guy" because of the way the state laws are written.

One person; one vote.

When Joe Snowbird's taxes goes up, so do mine. When Joe Snowbird complains we don't have enough street lights and there's no curbside pickup for trash and why isn't Alton more like I think - "thank God because I moved here to get away from that and don't want to pay more taxes for it!"
How true, but you also pay why more fee's than most states. Registrations for vehicles is out of the world here in NH. I pay $85 for 2 years with a vanity plate on my truck. What do you pay for 2 years for a 2 year old vehicle?????

And let's take those decisions made by the voters a bit further - what about the warrant articles that have to do with zoning or money to be raised for human services? [I]What does Joe Snowbird really know about those programs and the community that he is living in for 3-4 months out of the year?
Probably as much as you do as we read most of the local newspapers and are on the internet getting the same information as most of you.

In no way do I feel animosity towards the folks with seasonal homes here but a slanted article called "news", if the editor was honest, should have ran under the section called "opinion" because not all the facts - such as the state laws - are not even mentioned. Was it really a slow news day?

Not mentioned are the benefits Joe Snowbird receives from the town budget that's passed; with lots of care to great firework displays on July 4, extra landscaping, plenty of summertime activities for people of all ages via the Parks and Rec department, extra police and fire coverage needed for the summer, roads in good repair, extra waste management needed (landfill), and so much more...

Do you call those benefits for Joe Snowbird? I call them for all the people and not just those of Alton. Are you saying that the town is hiring more police, fire personnel for the summer months only??The transfer station has to run if Joe Snowbird is here or not.:)

And why Barnstead was picked for this comparison is beyond me. Barnstead is not on Lake Winni.... :rolleye1:

I sure hope that all do not feel this way. Oh, by the way I'm retiring up here next July and you bet I will vote the way I feel right now.

[Argie's Wife]

I sure hope that all do not feel this way. Oh, by the way I'm retiring up here next July and you bet I will vote the way I feel right now.

Sorry if my post hit you the wrong way - I really am. It's hard to balance a budget so that the retirees, who are getting less and less Social Security each year don't lose their home but then the amenities that folks expect from a tourist community like this one are available. What's the happy medium? How do you keep BOTH sides happy?

I echo your comments about registering vehicles. Totally in agreement with you there. I hate it that I can't afford to register my winter car; a 1997 Dodge Intrepid with almost 200K miles on it, because it would be about $300 that I don't have to register it and the extra money I'll need to make it pass inspection. It's a crazy way to raise revenue. But what's the answer? A state income tax? Or a state sales tax? I moved here for low taxes, a good community, and good schools. I moved here to get out of the cities I'd lived in all my life - not to bring that with me here. I don't miss the bright lights.

About the zoning... I respectfully disagree with you because you don't get the whole picture; those articles aren't even presented at the town deliberative session because they have no fiscal impact. The zoning meetings aren't usually covered by the press and are seldom taped; the workshops are not taped and that's when they discuss the warrant articles. So, no... I don't think many people - even many voters - really understand them.

And yes, Alton does have extra police for the summertime and have more students (the AFD has a training center) in the summer, too. I'm not sure about AFD hiring extras for the summer, but I do know that Parks and Recs hires more the summer, too - lifeguards, extra grounds help, etc.. So there are changes to staff which impacts the budget (salary, FICA, NHRS, etc.) And with the significant increase in population in the summer, of course the landfill has a lot more to deal with; whether it's building materials that need to be recycled, or just household trash - it's still an impact on that town department. There's also a water department, town clerk, library and many other departments that assist ALL residents; including the seasonal residents. I've heard it said that the there's 3 seasonal residents to each 1 year-around resident; I don't know if that's true, but if so... that's quite a population jump for 3-4 months a year!

Point: You don't realize the impact of it until you sit through a town budget session; it's quite an education, let me tell you. I've learned more about Alton and feel our administration and selectmen here do a very good job of running our town. But it's still a tightrope walk... hard decisions are made at those times when the budget is prepared and justified before it goes in front of the voters.

I've listened to selectmen and budget committee members wrestle with the amount of money used for patriotic purposes because (1) a big fireworks show and flags, etc. are expected but; (2) there could be some money saved by cutting that budget - So, what's the best answer? That's one small example of what's discussed to present a fair budget...

How do you keep taxes low but at the same time meet meet expectations, ensure safety, and provide amenities for a population that can go from 5,000 to 12,000+?

And I sincerely hope you do vote. I don't care if we don't see eye-to-eye on something - or anything - but I love it when people care enough to get involved and pay attention to what's going on. Voting is a right that too few people exercise.

[This'nThat]

It looks like the writer of this article has an agenda. He's pointing out that "things aren't equal". Well, duh! Go around the country. When you talk about property values, it's all about location. Vail, Colorado is more desireable than North Platte, Nebraska, so the property values will be different. Hollywood attracts different people than, say, Fargo North Dakota. So what? Life isn't about equal outcomes.

But it also sounds like this writer wants to blame New Hampshire for this difference in outcomes. Why would he do that? Maybe he doesn't like New Hampshire? Or perhaps this is the beginning of an effort to force equal outcomes across the state by taking money from one community and giving it to the next? Or perhaps this is a lead-in to "state-wide taxes" so as to "make those outcomes a lot more equal"? I'm suspicious whenever an article starts out with "delivery of Government services" or "relatively little money trickling down from state government". Sounds an awful lot like a gripe that Government services are just too small for his taste.

In any event, something smells fishy here.

[RLW]

Sorry if my post hit you the wrong way - I really am. It's hard to balance a budget so that the retirees, who are getting less and less Social Security each year don't lose their home but then the amenities that folks expect from a tourist community like this one are available. What's the happy medium? How do you keep BOTH sides happy?

I echo your comments about registering vehicles. Totally in agreement with you there. I hate it that I can't afford to register my winter car; a 1997 Dodge Intrepid with almost 200K miles on it, because it would be about $300 that I don't have to register it and the extra money I'll need to make it pass inspection. It's a crazy way to raise revenue. But what's the answer? A state income tax? Or a state sales tax? I moved here for low taxes, a good community, and good schools. I moved here to get out of the cities I'd lived in all my life - not to bring that with me here. I don't miss the bright lights.

About the zoning... I respectfully disagree with you because you don't get the whole picture; those articles aren't even presented at the town deliberative session because they have no fiscal impact. The zoning meetings aren't usually covered by the press and are seldom taped; the workshops are not taped and that's when they discuss the warrant articles. So, no... I don't think many people - even many voters - really understand them.

And yes, Alton does have extra police for the summertime and have more students (the AFD has a training center) in the summer, too. I'm not sure about AFD hiring extras for the summer, but I do know that Parks and Recs hires more the summer, too - lifeguards, extra grounds help, etc.. So there are changes to staff which impacts the budget (salary, FICA, NHRS, etc.) And with the significant increase in population in the summer, of course the landfill has a lot more to deal with; whether it's building materials that need to be recycled, or just household trash - it's still an impact on that town department. There's also a water department, town clerk, library and many other departments that assist ALL residents; including the seasonal residents. I've heard it said that the there's 3 seasonal residents to each 1 year-around resident; I don't know if that's true, but if so... that's quite a population jump for 3-4 months a year!

Point: You don't realize the impact of it until you sit through a town budget session; it's quite an education, let me tell you. I've learned more about Alton and feel our administration and selectmen here do a very good job of running our town. But it's still a tightrope walk... hard decisions are made at those times when the budget is prepared and justified before it goes in front of the voters.

I've listened to selectmen and budget committee members wrestle with the amount of money used for patriotic purposes because (1) a big fireworks show and flags, etc. are expected but; (2) there could be some money saved by cutting that budget - So, what's the best answer? That's one small example of what's discussed to present a fair budget...

How do you keep taxes low but at the same time meet meet expectations, ensure safety, and provide amenities for a population that can go from 5,000 to 12,000+?

And I sincerely hope you do vote. I don't care if we don't see eye-to-eye on something - or anything - but I love it when people care enough to get involved and pay attention to what's going on. Voting is a right that too few people exercise.

AMEN, you will not get any more from me, however I still disagree with some of your comments, but that is the great thing for these Untied States we all can have our own opinions. Bless the USA. :)

[TiltonBB]

So.................Is it time to change the tax system?

Should people be taxed on what they require for services rather than what they earn or the value of their home?

Does it make sense that a single medium wage earner with a large home be required to pay for the schools and services of the low wage earner with 5 children?

Why wouldn't you support a system to increase the tax rate on an individual for each dependent instead of decreasing it?

If you want to have a large family that will place a large burden on municipal services shouldn't you have to pay the related expenses for the burden you chose to create?

Don't shoot the messenger.......................just asking the questions!

[RI Swamp Yankee]

... Or perhaps this is the beginning of an effort to force equal outcomes across the state by taking money from one community and giving it to the next? ....NH already tried that with "donor towns".

[beagle]

I don't usually get involved in these discussions, but I think AW has overlooked the fact that we snowbirds generally pay a lot more taxes than the average homeowner, but we are not sending our kids to your schools. Have you been in Wolfeboro recently and seen the huge renovation at Kingswood? There is no way that could have been accomplished without snowbird tax money. Sure we snowbirds as well as full time residents all enjoy fireworks on the fourth of July and I am sure people come into town and spend a lot of money at the local businesses on the fourth, so it benefits everyone. But the school budget in most towns is a huge part of the budget that we snowbirds contribute to, but gain no benefit from. Heck, my kids don't even have a turf field to play on in my hometown, but I am sure a lot of your kids do!

[fatlazyless]

I don't usually get involved in these discussions, but ..... my kids don't even have a turf field to play on in my hometown, but I am sure a lot of your kids do!



As I recall, the $1,050,000 Interlakes football field and running track in Meredith got voted "yes" at the annual SAU#3 school meeting back sometime around 2004. Maybe 125 people showed up and voted for it at 11-pm, or something like that?

Hey, say what, it's a terrific field with a huge mountain view and the football program is a hugely popular Center Harbor, Sandwich & Meredith program! Definately worth the $1,050,000 and besides most all that money probably came from you-know-where!

Here's a ten dollar spaghetti dinner opportunity to help the football team on this Sunday night, Sept 26, down at the Lago Ristorante inside the Inn at Bay Point, which is right at the big Meredith intersection stop-lights, in case you did not know!!! What a location! What a terrific view looking down the bay! What a terrific crowd! And, what a happening event! Sounds like a great dinner, and for a terrific football team! LET's GO LAKER's! And, when was the last time you got to eat at Lago's for just ten dollars and ssssmmmooozzzz with the local football people, and there is no tip and no tax, what-so-ever, just spaghetti & football! Wow! Sounds like FUN.....don't it!

www.interlakesfootball.com/notices.htm

[Argie's Wife]

beagle - Your tax rate is the same as a resident's tax rate, correct? My point about the amenities is that *if* Alton or Center Harbor or Gilford, etc. were in a different location in the state and not a tourist community we'd most certainly have a different budget. Certainly, we all benefit from the amenities here in our town; it's a terrific place to raise a family. But there's things that have to be budgeted for that you wouldn't see in a "normal" budget. Your point about money raised by non-voting property tax payers is not lost on me. Quite frankly, I was surprised when the warrant for the school renovations passed.

---------

fll - you are correct that it can take just a few registered voters to convene at a town meeting to make decisions for an entire budget, warrant article, etc.

Recent example...

Barnstead had a special meeting last Saturday to discuss and vote on the teachers' contract for PMHS. The cost of the contract was about $16,500 for a one year contract. A total of 93 votes were cast; 26 votes were in favor, and 67 votes were against the contract.

There are 2,928 registered voters in Barnstead, according to the town's website. So, that decision was made by about 3% of the registered voters in town.

This is one of the arguments use for having a town go to SB-2 style voting, which is what Alton has now. I'm no fan of SB-2, and that has already been fodder for another thread.... :rolleye2:

[beagle]

Yes, my rate is the same as yours, but our house just was re-evaluated for a lot more than we could sell it for today. I think we both agree that without the non-resident money, each town would have a good deal less income to balance their budget with. True, there are things in your budget that are not in a normal budget, but much of the lakeshore towns' employment and businesses are geared toward tourism. Take that away, as well as the non-resident vacation homeowner taxes and what do you have left? It also would be interesting to see how much the town spends to support the summer visitors vs how much is spent in the school budget. In our town the school budget is over 70% of the total budget, and our per student expenditure (2008 data) is more than $17,000. So what I am trying to say is that because the lakeshore towns have a fairly large contribution in taxes from the non-resident population who do not add students to the education budget, you may be more ahead than you think.

[summersux]

There are also a lot of full time residents who do not use the public school system but have to pay for it so you are not alone. Same with MA, every time I make a purchase I pay taxes in that state but do not use the schools.

[SteveA]

Some will argue with some of this, (including me) but it is an interesting list. Having moved here many years ago from Mass. I think these are some of the "NH Advantage"

This is not meant to fire up debate. It's just an interesting list.

30 Reasons to Celebrate to living in NH


1) New Hampshire has the second-fastest job growth in the nation.

(U.S. Department of Labor, reported in the Union Leader 7.27.2010)

2) New Hampshire currently has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation - 5.7%, in August, which is 40 percent below the national average, fourth-lowest in the nation and lowest east of the Mississippi.

(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - www.bls.gov)

3) NH passed the three-part "New Hampshire Working" plan, which is helping citizens who need jobs find them, helping workers with jobs keep them, and ensuring that Granite Staters are trained for the jobs of the future.

(SB 501 in 2010)

Pro-Business

4) New Hampshire is the 7th most business friendly state in the nation, and the second most business-friendly state east of the Mississippi.

(The Tax Foundation - www.taxfoundation.org)

5) New Hampshire's 'Green Launching Pad' is helping Granite State businesses create new jobs in clean technologies.

(www.greenlaunchingpad.org)

6) The "Return to Work" program under New Hampshire Working benefits businesses by allowing people to continue collecting unemployment while receiving up to 24 hours per week of training by a potential employer.

(www.nh.gov/nhes/nhworking/ReturntoWork.htm)

7) The "Stay at Work: Workshare" program under New Hampshire Working allows businesses to reduce work hours of their employees to avert layoff, while the employee receives partial unemployment compensation.

(SB 501 in 2010 and www.nh.gov/nhes/nhworking/StayatWork.htm)

8) NH re-instituted the job training fund (suspended since 2003) that allows companies to partner with the state to train new workers or retrain longtime employees.

(SB 97 in 2007 and www.nhjobtrainingfund.org)

9) Over the last four years, NH has implemented a number of job-creation tax credits to help businesses grow during difficult times.

(Research and Development tax credit - SB 134 in 2007, Coos county tax credit - HB 1644 in 2008,Economic Revitalization Zone tax credit - SB 383 in 2010)



Low Taxes and Low Government Spending

10) New Hampshire has the 2nd lowest per capita taxes in the nation.

(Federation of Tax Administrators - www.taxadmin.org)

11) New Hampshire has the 5th lowest government state spending in the country.

(Kaiser State Health Facts - www.statehealthfacts.org)



Quality of Life

12) New Hampshire is the best place in America to raise a family.

(Annie E. Casey Foundation, National KIDS COUNT Program)

13) New Hampshire has the lowest crime rate in the country.

(Federal Bureau of Investigation and CQ Press)

14) New Hampshire has been named the safest state in the nation for the third year in a row.

(Federal Bureau of Investigation and CQ Press

15) New Hampshire has the highest standard of living and the lowest poverty rate in the country.

(U.S. Census Bureau)

16) New Hampshire became one of the first states to legally recognize full marriage equality.

(HB 436 in 2009)

17) NH passed the Granite State's first minimum wage increase in 10 years and a new law was passed to protect workers from being laid off without notice.

(Minimum wage - HB 514 in 2007. W.A.R.N. Act - SB 40 in 2009)

18) NH passed one of the nation's toughest laws to protect children from sexual predators and online abuse.

(SB 495 in 2008)

19) NH strengthened New Hampshire's anti-bullying statute, becoming one of the first states to address the act of cyber-bullying.

(HB 1523 in 2010)

20) In NH, every child in every New Hampshire community can now attend public kindergarten - ending our dubious status as the only state not to offer kindergarten to every child.

(HB 927 in 2007 - kindergarten included in the definition of an "adequate education")

21) NH created an innovative education plan that reduced New Hampshire's high school dropout rate by 30 percent in the past year.

(SB 18 in 2007)

22) In 2009, New Hampshire was one of only four states in the nation that saw fourth and eighth grade math test scores improve.

(National Center for Education Statistics - The Nation's Report Card: Mathematics 2009 -www.nces.ed.gov)



23) The NH legislature has made a commitment to fund services for people on the developmental disabilities wait-list.

(HB 2 in 2007 and HB 2 in 2009)

24) New Hampshire's infrastructure has improved through the capital budget and efficient use of federal highway stimulus funds.

(HB 25 in 2007, HB 25 in 2009, www.nh.gov/dot/recovery)

25) The housing market - a key indicator of economic growth - is growing faster in New Hampshire than in most other states.

(www.housingpredictor.com/newhampshire)



Government Efficiency and Transparency

26) New Hampshire became the first state government in the country to get 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources, and New Hampshire has developed a plan to reduce energy consumption in state-owned buildings by 25% by year 2025.

(www.lynch10.com/issues/quality-of-life, SB 73 in 2010 and www.25x25.org)

27) New Hampshire state government has become more transparent - with monthly state spending reports online for the first time.

(HB 1651 in 2010)

28) New Hampshire is putting more services - such as drivers' license renewals - online.

(http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/driverlic/index.html)

29) NH has made government more efficient by eliminating outdated boards and commissions.

(HB 1690 in 2010)

30) All three credit-rating agencies have recently reconfirmed New Hampshire's excellent bond rating, citing our "timely" budget management and our "economic strength and resiliency."

(http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Fitch-Rates-New-Hampshires-bw-1565594538.html?x=0)

[fatlazyless]

Hi, here are some NH local area labor statistics for August 2010 with seperate numbers for local towns like Moultonborough, Wolfeboro, and Laconia.

www.nh.gov/nhes/elmi/laushighlight.htm
............

And, here's a recent back page news item short from the Concord Monitor.


Concord Monitor, Sept 23, 2010, page B1, by Daniel Barrick

Housing market remains stagnant

The state's housing market remained stagnant last month according to figures released yesterday by the New Hampshire Association of Realtors. The median sale price for a home fell 3 percent in August compared with the same month last year: from $222,000 to 216,000.

Total sales fell sharply last month compared with last year, from 1,110 homes sold in August 2009 to 981 sales last month. That was a 12 percent decline.

The declines were not as steep as July's, when statewide residential sales fell 32 percent compared with July 2009. But the figures indicate that New Hampshire's housing market has yet to recover from the real estate slump. The July sales figures were the first to reflect the expiration of homebuyer tax credits.

"Naturally, we're not thrilled to see the decreases over the last two months, but we're not completely surprised either," said Moniker McGillicuddy, president of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors.

Locally, Merrimack County saw the median sales price drop 7 percent last month compared with a year earlier, from $207,000 to $192,500. Home sales also declined nearly 12 percent in the county, with 98 homes sold last month.

......

So, you can always depend on Moniker McGillicuddy, the president of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors to be telling it like it is, good news or bad news, when she says what she says! :rolleye1:
......

Here's a Wal-Mart item of interest with regard to the assessed value of a large number of the different Wal-Mart stores throughout New Hampshire. Never before has the New Hampshire state property tax board of appeal, a state agency located in Concord, had to devote an entire month of its' schedule to one individual applicant. The entire month of September, 2010, has been set aside for the state board of property tax appeals to hear Wal-Mart's attorneys and assessors appeals for lowering store assessed values across the state. These cases include a large number of different Wal-Mart stores and go back 3-4-& 5 years, including different calender years, in different towns.

Just as Wal-Mart will work with its' merchandise and food suppliers to have them lower their prices, Wal-Mart is similarly going through the individual town appeals process by taking it up to the state level of appeal in Concord.

There was a very good article on this about one month ago in a magazine like NH Business Journal or something, where I read about this, but I'm still trying to find it so's I can make a link.

Now, if Wal-Mart with their attorney & assessor teams can get their values lowered, what will that do for the other property tax payers within the same towns?

[MAXUM]

It all comes down to the spending. At some point towns, the state and for that matter the Feds have to stop, and not only stop but start reducing as in really cutting spending, not today's definition of cutting by merely reducing the amount of increases. In turn people need to understand that the government is not there to just "give" them "free" money every time they "need" it. That money the government has came from somewhere and that is the tax payers. Finally the whole notion of hitting up the "rich" every time they need money only lasts for so long, the "rich" only have so much too. What then whey they are taxed out of thier "richness"?

[Argie's Wife]

I agree with your post 100%.

As utilities and good increase in cost it becomes more challenging to present a budget to the voters that they will accept. The town presented a level-funded budget last year and the school presented a budget -6% below the previous years' budget. The school returned over $150,000 in unused funds to the town to offset this years' tax rate.

By presenting a cut budget or even a level-funded one, it means that projects, repairs, and upgrades have to wait. The longer those items wait, the more expensive they can become.

An upgrade to plumbing in a bathroom or replacing a roof will cost more two, three, or four years later down the road; not taking into account if those items (roof or plumbing) should fail at some point, causing for emergency repairs.

My point is that you can only run on a level-funded budget or cut budget for so long, when at some point you may have to ask for more money to take care of what the tax-payers have already paid for and trust you to manage.

[MAXUM]

See what I have a problem with is that even though the towns are doing thier best to level fund things, the state and feds in turn haven't stopped and the towns are taking a beating for it. Even worse the towns are responsible for funding critical services (no not curb side trash pickup):rolleye2: but fire, police and to some degree the school system are forced to cut back or not do as you say repairs that should be done. This poses a public saftey problem, yet notice that the entitlement programs continue to not only get funded, but increase in funding year after year. They are sucking the life out of everyone as more and more end up on the dole, some making a freaking career out of it as it passes from generation to generation. The days of free handouts on the backs of the working stiffs has got to stop. Instead of deamonizing those who have attained real success, those folks should be looked at as models for others to follow... excluding 99% of the music and entertainment industries.

The problems you see now are the direct result of having put into office a bunch of people who have no idea what they are doing, other than pushing an agenda for socal experimentation and idealism. Like I said in my last post, you can only tax the rich for so long before they aren't rich anymore... then where do you go? In the end everyone pays for it, either directly or indirectly.

[fatlazyless]

With regards to this "town by town" thread, suggest you take a look at Roy Sanborn's most recent real estate web log titled "The Taxman Cometh", dated October 10, located in the blog section of this website, way down at the bottom ..... www.winnipesaukee.com!

Hearing from someone in the business who is very close to the local real estate market is obviously a good source for local price movement info.

...gotta run.....later!

[RI Swamp Yankee]

This link will take you to the blog entry itself:

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=104