2008 TAX RESOLUTION – SELECTBOARD, TOWN OF HAVERHILL, NH

 

A RESOLUTION BY THE SELECTBOARD, TOWN OF HAVERHILL, CALLING UPON OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES, STATE SENATORS, AND GOVERNOR TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED AND OPEN DISCUSSION TO CONSIDER AND ODOPT A REVENUE SYSTEM THAT CORRECTS THE NEGATIVE IMPACT TO CITIZENS FROM EVER INCREASING PROPERTY TAX RATES REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY LIFE - SAFETY SERVICES.

 

FACTS AND FINDINGS

 

  1. The Town of Haverhill, as other New Hampshire towns, has three tax districts: local government, schools, and the county. (Local residents do not control county taxes; County budgets are approved by the Delegation.)
  2. New Hampshire singularly and primarily relies on local property taxes to fund schools and the costs of local government.
  3. Property taxes are based on anticipated spending for the calendar year.
  4. Rapid and significant population growth in Haverhill since 1990 continues to demand infrastructure improvements for education, roads, municipal services, human resources, and safety.  Times of growth require money and greater reliance upon increasing the property tax rate in order to maintain the same standard municipal services.  This places an undue and devastating impact on property owners with fixed or middle incomes.
  5. For the individuals on Òfixed incomeÓ or those who hold lower paying jobs with little opportunity for significant income advancement, or residents with emergency expenses or who become unemployed, and unless qualified for the elderly exemption, these taxpayers face the overwhelming task to pay a greater and greater fraction of their annual income toward taxes.
  6. Older residents pay a significantly higher percentage of their household income on property tax than do younger residents.
  7. Many residents are required to pay for property taxes at the exclusion of basic life and health needs.
  8. Many residents in the Town of Haverhill foresee a time when the cost of owning a property may play a major role in deciding to sell their homes.
  9. The local property tax supports nearly all of the cost of public education.
  10. Public support of schools accounts for approximately 80% of local taxes; public support of Town of Haverhill expenses has varied from 15% to 20% since 2001.
  11. The Town Budget Committee, Selectboard, and Town Meeting are too often placed in the situation of having to cut basic and needed life-safety services due to the inability of residents to sustain ever increasing tax rates that result in a greater percentage of average individual annual gross incomes being paid to the Town of Haverhill.

 

 

NOW THEREFORE, THE TOWN OF HAVERHILL SELECTBOARD RESOLVES AND CALLS UPON STATE REPRESENTATIVES, STATE SENATORS, AND THE GOVERNOR TO:

 

  1. Reassess the ÒPledge,Ó and
  2. Open discussion covering all tax revenue options, and adopt a revenue system that lowers property taxes, and
  3. If new revenues are adopted, they must off set property tax in a like amount, and
  4. Adopt a statewide revenue system that enables local government to meet basic municipal needs without total reliance upon an unfair burdensome property tax that often results in unmet municipal needs or tax increases that negatively impact those who can least afford the costs.  

 

 

 

ADOPTED BY THE SELECTBOARD, OF THE TOWN OF HAVERHILL, NH

 

this 21st day of  January, 2008

 

 

____________________________________

Rick Ladd, Chairman, Selectboard

 

____________________________________

Peter Conrad, Selectboard Member

 

____________________________________

Joel Dupuis, Selectboard Member

 

____________________________________

Dave Joslin, Selectboard Member

 

____________________________________

Robert Maccini, Selectboard Member

 

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