Implementing sales tax (Concord, Bedford, Lincoln: environment, credit, real estate)

[GregW]

I am opposed to a sales tax because it inappropriately taxes lower income citizens more than the higher income people. I am also opposed to the current residential property tax based system because it does not adequately represent income. I would prefer an income tax on all resident and nonresident (for the time they are in the state for longer than, say, two weeks) summer people on the basis of all income from all sources with a deductable that would exempt 85% of the residents.

For starters the revenue would allow all the children of the state to have and education previously available only to the kids of the wealthier towns and cities. This revenue would also allow us to develop and take care of more parks and forests as well as advertise for more tourist dollars. In addition the revenues could fund adequate elder care facilities for our ageing population. The curent state budget is woefully low for a 21st century civilization.

[LucasMetaphor]

Originally Posted by dognh

NO SALES TAX!

If you think a sales tax is gonna lower your property taxes, you've living in a dream world. Taxes only go up, never down, which is why we need to keep them off the books in the first place.

Instead of implementing a sales tax to cut property taxes in half, why don't we just cut property taxes in half?

I truly agree with your thinking Dognh! No Sales Tax! And yes, cut property tax in 1/2 and you will see more revenues for the state!

[cyc1e]

Originally Posted by nicolem

1. Those college kids from out of state who attend state schools should have to pay OUT OF STATE RATES. Practically every other state in the US has two sets of rates-in state and out of state. Why don't we? If a kid is a resident of NH and his parents pay property taxes, he should be afforded the benefit of a cheaper education at a state school. If we took in more $$ from out of staters, less state aid would have to go to state schools.Nicolem

Nicolem: Not sure where you got the idea that New Hampshire doesn't have out of state rates.

My daughter graduated from UNH last year. (I live in York, Maine.) We paid over $27,000 per her last year and it looks like its gone up again.

My wife (from NY) graduated from UNH in 1980 and paid out of state rates then too.

Believe me. We pay plenty.

Like $16,000 per year more than an in state resident.

The current rates are here: Business Services

2007/2008 Per Semester Per Year Per Credit Hour
NH Resident 4,405.00 8,810.00 367.00
Out-of-State Resident 10,885.00 21,770.00 907.00

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by cyc1e

Nicolem: Not sure where you got the idea that New Hampshire doesn't have out of state rates.

My daughter graduated from UNH last year. (I live in York, Maine.) We paid over $27,000 per her last year and it looks like its gone up again.

My wife (from NY) graduated from UNH in 1980 and paid out of state rates then too.

Believe me. We pay plenty.

Like $16,000 per year more than an in state resident.

The current rates are here: Business Services

2007/2008 Per Semester Per Year Per Credit Hour
NH Resident 4,405.00 8,810.00 367.00
Out-of-State Resident 10,885.00 21,770.00 907.00

I guess I was mistaken then. I remember the last time the legislature tried to put through an income tax- I remember reading that the difference between resident and non-resident was not as large as it appears to be today. I am glad that it was changed. Sorry for the wrong information.

Nicolem

[cyc1e]

Although not a perfect system, I like the NH tax system quite a lot. (I lived in NH from 1977 to 1995)

1. When you pay your tax in Property tax, it goes directly to your town. No state government collects and redistributes your taxes to other communities.
2. This allows you to more directly have a say in what gets spent. (Run down to town hall and argue about each line item)
3. Relying on property taxes means that residents have an incentive to work extra hard. If you do really well, you can afford to move to a better town with better schools.

Think about what NH does really well.

Anyone commute to Boston? Roads in NH are plowed really well - I mean right down to the pavement! When its construction time, often NH works on the roads at night. At 8:00am theres just a little bump from where they left off paving. In Mass or Maine, they just block off 3 of 4 lanes and you spend your day in traffic. Compare getting your license or renewing your registration to Mass or Maine.

I guess what I mean is that while other states talk about living within their means, NH actually does it. PLUS, you can directly control how your $$$ are spent.

[rmcewan]

Originally Posted by cyc1e

Nicolem: Not sure where you got the idea that New Hampshire doesn't have out of state rates.

My daughter graduated from UNH last year. (I live in York, Maine.) We paid over $27,000 per her last year and it looks like its gone up again.

My wife (from NY) graduated from UNH in 1980 and paid out of state rates then too.

Believe me. We pay plenty.

Like $16,000 per year more than an in state resident.

The current rates are here: Business Services

2007/2008 Per Semester Per Year Per Credit Hour
NH Resident 4,405.00 8,810.00 367.00
Out-of-State Resident 10,885.00 21,770.00 907.00

Interesting that with all those out-of-state school fees, the town of Durham - home to UNH - has the third highest tax rate in the state. The school/state gets the extra fees and the town gets next to nothing to support those out of state residents (who might live on campus, but still use the roads, parks, and other services). I understand they VOTE too. Representation without taxation!!

For the record, I am dead set against any income or sales tax here - and will vote against any town or state politician in favor of them.

[Tarastomsgirl]

[quote=cyc1e;3321915]

Think about what NH does really well.

Anyone commute to Boston? Roads in NH are plowed really well - I mean right down to the pavement! When its construction time, often NH works on the roads at night. At 8:00am theres just a little bump from where they left off paving. In Mass or Maine, they just block off 3 of 4 lanes and you spend your day in traffic. Compare getting your license or renewing your registration to Mass or Maine.

QUOTE]

I swear it must just be my town that suxs at plowing!! What the heck! I even have pics. you can clearly see how high the snow is on the car, and you can't even see the roads. Completely gone, the snow btw in the middle of those roads were mid shin on me. Why would a city let them get that high? These are both MAIN roads in Keene more than mid blizzard if you will and now plows? No clearing of the roads nothing. I mean seriously is this absurd or is it just me? I feel like people are completely screwed here. Would you be mad if this were your main streets after many hours of it snowing and no plows what so ever? You can clearly see there isnt even sand down because the roads would be brown.

[CometVoyager]

[quote=Tarastomsgirl;3327178]

Originally Posted by cyc1e

Think about what NH does really well.

Anyone commute to Boston? Roads in NH are plowed really well - I mean right down to the pavement! When its construction time, often NH works on the roads at night. At 8:00am theres just a little bump from where they left off paving. In Mass or Maine, they just block off 3 of 4 lanes and you spend your day in traffic. Compare getting your license or renewing your registration to Mass or Maine.

QUOTE]

I swear it must just be my town that suxs at plowing!! What the heck! I even have pics. you can clearly see how high the snow is on the car, and you can't even see the roads. Completely gone, the snow btw in the middle of those roads were mid shin on me. Why would a city let them get that high? These are both MAIN roads in Keene more than mid blizzard if you will and now plows? No clearing of the roads nothing. I mean seriously is this absurd or is it just me? I feel like people are completely screwed here. Would you be mad if this were your main streets after many hours of it snowing and no plows what so ever? You can clearly see there isnt even sand down because the roads would be brown.

Great Photos Tarastomsgirl! Why are you so worried? The roads in NH are well maintained and yes, when there is a blizzard road crews usually wait till it stops before plowing if the storm is say going to be only a 6 hour one.

But I would recommend a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Even a small Subaru Forester would be great and can handle any kind of snow!

Please, as you can see we do not want anymore taxes in NH. We all like it just the way it is! Maybe Mass or Vermont would suit you more??

[paradiddle]

Boy I don't miss that snow at all..... well I do miss the quiteness standing outside in the middle of a snow like your photo. I would be running my trusty 10 HP Ariens snowblower in Manchester and shut it down to listen to that quietness..

On the subject of taxes.... NH is imperfect but I have found it to be as good as it gets in the 50 states. It is really difficult to find a way of fairly taxing all residents and also collecting taxes and fees from non-residents.

You hear a lot of crying by governments everywhere. Mass. has a nice Prop 2 1/2 system that allows voters to override as needed. 3 out of 4 towns in Mass just voted down overrides even though the govt.s are predicting gloom and doom. In Fla we just voted in a 1% increase in sales tax to 7% to go along with property tax restructure. The local govts still have to cut budgets mandated by the govenor.

We all know when there are good times and bad money-wise. We have cutback when times are tough at home. Why don't local governments follow the same ebb and flow. They always want money whether you have it or not. They always want raises even though you didn't get one. they always want new equipment even though you decided to get another 2-3 years out of your car.

NH has the best system because it is local-based, less wasteful. You can go to the other bordering states and find town like yours that are in the same boat. Go to the Northeast Kingdom in Vermont or parts of Rutland and find poverty. How about Fitchburg or Springfield Mass. All states have communities with problems no matter what the tax system.

Keene is a great community and does just fine in the grand scheme of things.

My recollection of snowstorms is that they don't plow until it stops. You shouldn't be out on the road. Wait at home, have a nice cup of Hot Chocolate and play with your kids. The snowplows will be out soon enough and all will be well.

[GregW]

Taratomsgirl -What's the problem? I can still see the street name.