Town-wide reassessment in Brookline

[BrooklinersDontVote]

New tax assessment this year, 2010, I don't get why if they just did one two years ago. Somebody's son on the Assessor's Board must be paying too much in taxes. Okay, that was bad. And possibly true. Anyways, regarding the police, either we're going to have a police department that follows the law (which is a problem for those who think living in town forever means they don't have to follow any laws) or one that doesn't (which leaves the normal law-abiding people at the mercy of the knotheads that can't follow the law).

[lisa g]

Originally Posted by BrooklinersDontVote

Anyways, regarding the police, either we're going to have a police department that follows the law (which is a problem for those who think living in town forever means they don't have to follow any laws) or one that doesn't (which leaves the normal law-abiding people at the mercy of the knotheads that can't follow the law).

BINGO. And that mentality is common here too. I am beginning to think that there must be something rotten in the local water supply or something because the longer folks live here the less ethical they feel they have to be.

[BrooklinersDontVote]

Another issue, in the town report:
Total Number of Acres Receiving Current Use 5,280.38


So approximately 1/2 of the town property is assessed as current use,
which means they pay near nothing for property tax. Approximately 20% of
the town is conservation land. Which leaves... 30% of the town paying
100% of the taxes. Now the conservation committee will have you believe
there's enormous pressure on our land to build - 70% is not built on.
And every year, the town votes to take what money comes from the land coming
out of current use (to build or subdivide) and give it to...the conservation
committee.

And what's going on with all that beautiful conservation land? Take a
walk on it and see how ripped up some of it is. It is conserved for snowmobiling,
not wilderness preservation.

Originally Posted by Benny08

Brookline recently completed a reassessment of every property in town and not surprisingly values have gone way up...in my case almost $100,000.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by BrooklinersDontVote

Another issue, in the town report:
Total Number of Acres Receiving Current Use 5,280.38


So approximately 1/2 of the town property is assessed as current use,
which means they pay near nothing for property tax. Approximately 20% of
the town is conservation land. Which leaves... 30% of the town paying
100% of the taxes. Now the conservation committee will have you believe
there's enormous pressure on our land to build - 70% is not built on.
And every year, the town votes to take what money comes from the land coming
out of current use (to build or subdivide) and give it to...the conservation
committee.

And what's going on with all that beautiful conservation land? Take a
walk on it and see how ripped up some of it is. It is conserved for snowmobiling,
not wilderness preservation.

That is a town problem in terms of allowing motorized vehicles on trails. Many conservation lands in other towns in the state do not allow ANY motorized vehicles on conservation lands. The LUC tax is a good funding mechanism to conserve new lands that have been idenfitied as such, though.

Regarding the tax burden in a town like Brookline... It all comes down to having a limited tax base and too much local government spending.

[BrooklinersDontVote]

re: values have gone way up...in my case almost $100,000
That doesn't make any sense, values are dropping. A house on the market, identical to mine with 1 additional acre, selling
at 58% assessed value.

re: The LUC tax is a good funding mechanism to conserve new lands...
No need to be buying it all and immediately. It's not under threat and it will be decades before it is. But most of the bonds out right now are for big tracks of conservation land. School funding is crazy too. This year, arguing to keep the budget the same while enrollment's declining. Makes no sense. Also, funding things like Latin classes for 10 kids makes no sense. Guitar class too. ?!?!? A commenter got up and said 50 classes at the high school has 10 students or less.
I also don't see what the teachers are complaining about regarding their salary. They make $45 or more an hour, same as engineers.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by BrooklinersDontVote

re: values have gone way up...in my case almost $100,000
That doesn't make any sense, values are dropping. A house on the market, identical to mine with 1 additional acre, selling
at 58% assessed value.

re: The LUC tax is a good funding mechanism to conserve new lands...
No need to be buying it all and immediately. It's not under threat and it will be decades before it is. But most of the bonds out right now are for big tracks of conservation land. School funding is crazy too. This year, arguing to keep the budget the same while enrollment's declining. Makes no sense. Also, funding things like Latin classes for 10 kids makes no sense. Guitar class too. ?!?!? A commenter got up and said 50 classes at the high school has 10 students or less.
I also don't see what the teachers are complaining about regarding their salary. They make $45 or more an hour, same as engineers.

I predict school staff will be cut in the next several years as enrollment will continue to rapidly decline. Younger people starting out can't really afford very many options in terms of real estate in that part of the state, especially factoring in property taxes, energy costs, maintenance, etc. I have a number of friends and many of them state that a large percentage of the population ages 18-35 are leaving the state for lower cost of living metros with jobs in other places, or otherwise down to the Boston region.

[buck naked]

the cost of living in Brookline, NH is 94% higher than the rest of the nation. I don't know if this statement is true or not but it is EVERYWHERE on the internet.


With that said, the average HS teacher's salary is $43K with a starting salary at $28K. $43K breaks down to $119 per day or a starting salary of $78. per day. and it's a long day..... A teacher does not punch out and end her job daily. It continues beyond the 4PM car ride home. Paper work and tests can take 6 more hours at home.


Engineers make more than teachers, lots more. A teacher's job requires a Masters degree, yet EVERY OTHER TRADE pays more than teaching. Do engineer positions require a Masters? not usually. Most do not. If anything, a PhD might be preferred, but only Teachers are required to have a Masters.

[BrooklinersDontVote]

I haven't done the math on every issue of the newspaper but I did a few times and approx. 40% of the real estate transactions were foreclosure property transfers/sales. I don't think the affordability is a problem for young people only. Tough on elderly, working families and most obviously, the unemployed. A coworker/friend says "Oh what's an extra thousand a year on taxes for us?" He is completely oblivious that his vote is taking the rest of the town (young, elderly, etc.) with him for the ride.

Spending is rampant and insane.

I took a close look at the town budget for Brookline in the past year and also see senseless spending there. Library buying books they have no room for (they're in storage ) and town purchased a church they have no use for , new EMS/ambulance housing sized for NYC, etc. etc.

I did go to the last town budget meeting on the high school and I have to agree with the Hollis group, Citizens United, the school board is broken. No sense of bloat in their budget, let alone any sense of responsibility to be efficient, previously NH Living 101.

With southern NH behaving like MA, I see no particular advantage in living in NH any more.

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

I predict school staff will be cut in the next several years as enrollment will continue to rapidly decline. Younger people starting out can't really afford very many options in terms of real estate in that part of the state, especially factoring in property taxes, energy costs, maintenance, etc. I have a number of friends and many of them state that a large percentage of the population ages 18-35 are leaving the state for lower cost of living metros with jobs in other places, or otherwise down to the Boston region.

[BrooklinersDontVote]

There's a whole lot of bad math in your example. Starting with
$43K/119 a day = 361 days
Do you know any teachers that work 361 days a year? They work 180 days and that's being generous as the rest of the public isn't paid for week-long conferences, winter break, spring break, holiday break, etc. etc. And this is only salary, not total compensation package.
I hope you aren't a teacher and in particular, a math teacher.

I don't know where you're getting the $43K either. The lowest salary mentioned at the HBHS
budget meeting was $45K, and no mention was made if this was a part time or full time teacher.

As for comparison of teachers and engineers, there's not a snowballs chance that an average engineer is going home at 4, let alone daily. Chronic business reliance on their working nights and weekends free. Keep in mind they have no union to clip their days to a tidy 8 hour 180 days.

Originally Posted by buck naked

the cost of living in Brookline, NH is 94% higher than the rest of the nation. I don't know if this statement is true or not but it is EVERYWHERE on the internet.


With that said, the average HS teacher's salary is $43K with a starting salary at $28K. $43K breaks down to $119 per day or a starting salary of $78. per day. and it's a long day..... A teacher does not punch out and end her job daily. It continues beyond the 4PM car ride home. Paper work and tests can take 6 more hours at home.


Engineers make more than teachers, lots more. A teacher's job requires a Masters degree, yet EVERY OTHER TRADE pays more than teaching. Do engineer positions require a Masters? not usually. Most do not. If anything, a PhD might be preferred, but only Teachers are required to have a Masters.