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Sporin - That's interesting. I didn't realize they varied so much. I still have to figure out where Littleton is in regard to the "upper valley region" - on the news, at least one station, seems to consider it the upper valley, but I was also told we're really the "upper-upper valley" <g>.
In any case, I hope NH doesn't go with a state income tax, but I suppose in a way it's inevitable (spelling doesn't look right) eventually. I know in NY there are a lot of "hard feelings" for lack of a better term, about the way the income tax is used - the people in the govt. always manage to vote themselves pay raises before the end of their session and a lot of the money finds it's way to helping to fund NYC - people in the other areas of NY get really ticked off by both of those. Hopefully, if NH DOES institute a state income tax, it will do a better job with the monies, but I can see what "Mustard" has said could and probably would happen........
There is only one way to vote if you don't want higher taxes.........Lots of people from other states come here to shop because there is no sales tax. It would be foolish to change that. Out economy would really suffer.
Compare Windsor VT (where I live) to Lebanon NH, right across the river.
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I'm not saying VT is cheaper, we have income and sales tax to make up the difference is all. My point is that for all the "rankings" I see with VT so high and NH so low, I've not seen that in my own personal experiences. I've lived in both states and I see it simply as states getting their "pound of flesh" one way or the other. {shrug} Difference is NH talks all tough about "no taxes" when they have a dozen other ways to make you pay (insane car reg. prices being only one of them).
Rankings mean nothing unless you're a "typical" person or couple.
Location, income, property, there are many variables that can make one state cheaper than another even if it's ranked as a higher tax state.
We all know who likes more taxes. Once Pandora's Box is opened, that's the end. Next would be a "small" sales tax.
You're right, politicians forget who they are when they get the drugs of power and money. There are people who need to be in treatment more than a bunch of Hollywood stars...70% of politicians.
The taxes seem brutal, but if you factor in no sales tax and no income tax, I would actually be doing better in NH than here in Mass. Like others have said, it depends on where you live and how well the town you are in manages their assets.
In any case, I hope NH doesn't go with a state income tax, but I suppose in a way it's inevitable
No, please don't say it's inevitable. It isn't! NH can keep its advantage of no income tax and no sales tax, but ONLY if the citizens demand that it stay that way.
Mustard is absolutely right. If New Hampshirites allow an income tax or sales tax to be passed, over time it will grow and grow and become more and more burdensome. That is exactly what's happening here in Phoenix. Taxes keep going up and politicians just keep spending it on ever more wasteful things (like building a $300 million dollar hotel and giving a $100 million tax break to a commercial development already in the final planning stages.) Don't let New Hampshire go down that road.
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Originally Posted by nibseysgirl
(especially since the whole school funding fiasco a few years back,....for the life of me I cant remember what its called..begins with a C)
Every state that I have lived (3) has raised their income or sales taxes so many times that it is used to justify every shortfall that state has had. In OH we have had a temporary increase in a sales tax for 5 years now which sort of means it is permanent. One state I lived in had a 4% tax become a 6.75% state income tax in only 12 years--there is no end unless the taxpayers revolt--it will go up always.
The government should be forced to work within its limits. Giving them more money is like giving an alcoholic the keys to the bar. They will always abuse it.
My mother, a SoNH resident, thinks it's inevitable and actually wouldn't object if it was something like a flat-fee - she thinks it might solve some problems. I think she's a bit naive.
Here in MD, where we have both sales & income tax <shudder>, last year with our Republican governor (first time since Agnew!) we had a balanced budget, this year we've gone back to a Dem and his budget has a 1.5 BILLION deficit. Now gee, where is that money going to come from! (plus we've got the city and the county property taxes)
If NH institutes an income tax, it will never go away and it will keep on growing. One of the things we like up NH is it's independance and not following everyone else. Just say 'No' if it ever comes up on a ballot.
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