The NH property tax crisis
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result.
This past weekend was the Town of Pittsfield’s Deliberative Session, and once again, a budget was presented that — while necessary — was difficult to accept. Not because the funding isn’t needed, but because everyone in the room understands exactly what it means: higher property taxes.
Year after year, the same question is asked: How can we afford to keep paying more in property taxes? And year after year, the can is kicked further down the road — thanks in part to state-level decisions made by legislators who appear more focused on party lines than on the real impacts felt by their constituents.
The irony is hard to ignore. New Hampshire prides itself on a low overall tax burden: no sales tax, no state income tax and now the repeal of the Interest and Dividends Tax. It benefits the wealthies, not the taxpayers struggling to keep up with rising property taxes.
After attending 33 town meetings in my small town, I can say with certainty: this problem is not going away. And the core issue is not that towns and school districts are mismanaging their budgets. But starving local governments and schools year after year is not a solution — it is a slow erosion of our communities.
To our elected officials: instead of continuing to undermine town and school budgets, come together and take meaningful action to help the regular people of New Hampshire.