Laconia Tax Cap

[RamJet]

Dover will be voting on a tax cap in November. Tax increases can only be less than the CPI.

What has Laconia’s experience been with their tax cap?

[codeman671]

I live in Dover as well, what exactly is the proposed plan in Dover? I have not had time to look into it and have not heard much scuttlebutt around, granted most of my summer has been at the lake.

[Skip]

The Dover tax cap proposal is pretty straightforward and based on the Laconia model already in place.

Basically it restricts the City Council from approving a budget (combined school/city) that exceeds the current rate of inflation, averaging around 3% the last few years.

However, if the Council desires it can exceed the cap but would need to garner a 2/3rds vote to overide.

1400 Dover voters signed a petition to get this charter ammendment on the November ballot, many believe, because the past two City Councils have been passing budgets that have been twice the rate of inflation. Needless to say the tax burden associated with the unprecedented spending has alarmed many Dover residents!

[Weirs guy]

What has Laconia’s experience been with their tax cap?

Taxes stopped going up like crazy! :laugh:

OK, I'm not an expert but I'll tell you what I see. First I fully support tax caps, at least until my employer stops supporting COLA raises. But what I have seen is moderate tax increases with very little complaining about the city not having enough for this or that. And they finally paved the other end of Elm St. :D

But as I said, I'm just an average guy who does not participate in the local government process to any major extent. I'd be curious of others opinions as well.