Hot topic: Patriotism will be front and center as residents will choose if veterans who were captured and incarcerated for more than 30 days “in a qualifying war or armed conflict” and were honorably discharged should receive a waiver on the fee to register one vehicle. Tax credits for veterans and members of the New Hampshire National Guard who meet certain criteria will also be debated.
Town administrator Derik Goodine believes the three articles connected to military service will pass.
“I have not heard anyone speak negatively at all and would be surprised if they would,” Goodine said. “We’re trying to help families and would be surprised if anyone would be against helping those families with a little bit of tax relief.”
Budget: The municipal budget calls for $3.98 million, $16,000 less than last year’s $4 million total, which is this year’s default budget proposal.
Either budget means a drop in the tax rate from last year’s rate of $10.12 per $1,000 assessed property value, with the municipal budget moving to $9.62 per $1,000 and the default budget to $9.67 per $1,000, which would be about $112 to $125 in savings on a $250,000 home.
At $2.28 million, money for the town’s sewer commission would mean a slight increase of $4,000 if approved, while the default appropriation would remain the same as last year at $2.276 million. Decreases in reserve fund money kept the budget from increasing.
Noteworthy articles: Goodine, noting this year’s town warrant contains “nuts and bolts” proposals, said all measures should pass easily, including the addition of Keno to Olympus Pizza.
“The select board members have been approached by the public asking that to be on the warrant,” Goodine said.
Elected positions: The filing period for elected positions ends Friday.
When and where: The town’s deliberative session will be held at Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Armand Dupont School. Ballot voting will take place between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on March 12 at St. Jean the Baptist Parish Hall, 10 School St.
Ray Duckler
Hot topic: The warrant includes four articles each asking to place $20,000 in trust funds, with none of the money to be raised through taxation. If approved, the money would be earmarked for technology, high school tuition, school building maintenance and special education.
Budget: The proposed budget is $10.45 million, about a 1 percent increase. If defeated, the operating budget would drop to $10.35 million, which is about the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous actions of the Allenstown School District.
When and where: The town’s school district meeting will be held Saturday at the Armand Dupont School, following the 9 a.m. town deliberative session.
Ballot voting will take place between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. March 12 at St. Jean the Baptist Parish Hall, 10 School St.
Ray Duckler