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At this time of year, it is customary for us to be counting
our blessings, thinking about how lucky we are to live in America
- and how lucky we are to live in New Hampshire.
While many of us count New Hampshire among our blessings, during
this holiday season, in some of our communities, there is considerable
anger. This anger isn't coming from the have-nots, those communities
with higher tax rates, higher crime rates and rundown properties.
No, this anger is coming from some of the wealthiest communities
in our state: Portsmouth, Newington, Rye, the Hamptons and more.
They don't seem to view our state, as a whole, as one of their
blessings. Their sense of community seems to stop at their town
lines. Many talk as if they feel no sense of responsibility for
the overall well-being of New Hampshire. They say:
"Why should I send my tax dollars to Claremont?" I
guess they don't care about those Claremont kids - Claremont's
responsibility, as they see it.
They call themselves "donor towns." They claim that
the new state property tax causes them to "donate"
to the Rochesters, the Franklins, the Claremonts. They are making
it clear that they don't want to donate to anyone.
I have good news for them. They won't be donating to anyone.
They will be paying the same rate to cover the cost of the state's
education mandates as every other community in New Hampshire.
All communities will be paying a state tax, $6.60 per $1,000
of (equalized) property value. No donating on anyone's part!
Everyone pays! Then the state uses the money to fund the same
per-pupil rate in every community throughout the state, including
theirs.
But some don't want to see it this way. Why? Let's not mince
words. They don't care about the logic of fairness. We have some
pretty selfish people in some of these communities. It pains
me to say this, but it's true. Although over the years they've
read of the divisive property tax struggles of New Hampshire's
poorer communities in their newspapers, to them, that wasn't
their problem. Most of these people have never lifted a finger
to help their fellow New Hampshire citizens, including the children
in those struggling towns.
Just how good have these communities had it? In Newington, which
is refusing to pay the state property tax, the school taxes on
a $1 million mansion on the Great Bay were about $1800 to fund
about $10,000 per pupil. Under the new plan, that $1 million
mansion's school taxes would go up to about $7,000, On a $150,000
home in Newington the school taxes would go from less than $300
to just over $1,000.
If allowances are made for low-income property owners, can anyone
see a good reason for Newington to complain? 1 can't. They'll
still have the lowest school property taxes in the entire state!
How about Portsmouth? They've been crying like babies. Their
taxes would increase $1.25. Do the citizens of Portsmouth know
what the majority of the state calls a $1.25 school tax increase?
Answer: A good year!
Portsmouth, which had the lowest school property taxes of any
city in the state, will see its school taxes rise to around the
same rate that Somersworth will go down to. However, Portsmouth's
school taxes fund over $8,000 per pupil while Somersworth's funds
just over $5,000 per pupi1.
On top of all this, we're talking about Portsmouth, one of the
greatest cities in the country. Are these complainers counting
their blessings as we approach Thanksgiving? No! They're angry.
They'd rather stick the entire state with new taxes than pay
the same state property tax rate as everyone else.
My guess is that some of the complainers will be tempted to write
a counter-letter to this one. May I suggest that this is a coward's
way out. Why not instead debate me on the fairness of a state
property tax to the richest communities in the state. I'll do
it in Portsmouth, Newington or any other town.
However, my sense is not to wait by my phone (623-7900 ext. 400,
if anyone's interested). So, assuming there won't be debates,
I'd like to attempt to calm their anger by asking the angry ones
to count their blessings as they sit around the Thanksgiving
table. Here are some blessings I don't want them to leave out:
Blessing No. 1: They live in America, the greatest country in
the world.
Blessing No. 2: They live in New Hampshire, the best place to
live in America.
Blessing No. 3: They live in New Hampshire's most prestigious
communities with some of the highest quality of life in the country.
Blessing No. 4: They still have among the lowest property taxes
in the entire state.
Blessing No. 5: They still have no income or sales tax and pay
among the lowest state and local taxes m America.
Beyond that, I ask them to feel a sense of satisfaction that
all of us, including them, will pay our fair share to ensure
that all New Hampshire children will now have the opportunity
for an adequate education.
But, most of all, during this holy season, for God's sake, please
stop acting and sounding like Ebenezer Scrooge.
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