There have been several letters recently from Republicans claiming Democrats in New Hampshire are unreasonable and irresponsible with their latest budget proposals. These letters also discuss how they have managed to lower taxes in their past budgets.
What the Republicans have failed to tell us is that they are able to keep certain taxes and expenses low by passing costs along to all of us in our local property taxes. If you live in a town with a strong tax base, like our governor does, that may work. The rest of us see our local taxes go up while we have to cut services to our schools and town.
In addition, they keep talking about their support for the Secure Psychiatric Unit. That is an important addition that is needed. What they don’t mention is their continual lack of funding for community mental health, which is a bigger problem for citizens in this state. Having 30 to 40 people sitting in emergency rooms daily waiting for help is a problem. So is our lack of mental health services for children. And as a public school teacher, don’t even get me started on the Republicans’ failure to fund DCYF to provide basic monitoring and prevention of child abuse in this state. It is not happening, and it continues to be dangerous for children.
The minimal money that the state gives is no longer acceptable for the above programs and for education. Many towns see no end to their property taxes rising. It is unfair.
The Republican tax system works well for the minority with money to spare. That is the New Hampshire real advantage.
SUSAN SEIDNER
Pembroke