Adam Czarkowski works in the technology sector and lives in Penacook.

A recent My Turn in the Concord Monitor claimed that New Hampshire has higher taxes than Massachusetts based on one retired person’s situation. I would argue as a person that is just past mid-career the lack of an income tax makes New Hampshire far more appealing than Massachusetts. The state staying away from my paycheck more than makes up for my property taxes. Full disclosure I don’t own a half-million-dollar home like the author so my property tax burden may be slightly less.

New Hampshire is a low tax state, and you don’t have to take your old pal Adam’s word for it. According to Wallet Hub, a financial literacy website, New Hampshire has the third lowest individual tax burden in the country due to no income tax. You know what the states with the highest individual tax burden had in common? If you answered an income tax you would be right. In this same study by Wallet Hub, Massachusetts had the 20th highest individual tax burden. I’ll take third lowest over 20th highest every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

New Hampshire has a reputation for being fiscally responsible. Even the Democrats here are more fiscally responsible than their peers in other states. If New Hampshire adopted an income tax you could kiss fiscal responsibility goodbye. Once politicians get their hands on the revenue from our paychecks the sky is the limit for wasteful spending. It’s bad enough that the federal government steals 30% of workers’ income to fight proxy wars, buy defense contractors new yachts, and fund a Ponzi scheme we don’t need the state to join in.

When comparing property taxes to an income tax, at least with a property tax I know the city and school district will raise it 1-2% a year. With an income tax the harder you work the more money they steal. Work some overtime or pull a couple of on-call shifts, better get ready for the government to swoop in and take more of your money. Get a raise? Well, looks like the government is getting a raise too.

Many of the folks who say New Hampshire’s tax system is unfair claim to have altruistic motives. Yet most of them are either retired or approaching retirement. Now that these folks are past their peak wage-earning years shifting the tax burden to working folks is a good idea. Doesn’t sound too altruistic to me.

New Hampshire’s tax system is an advantage. It forces elected officials to be fiscally responsible. You can only get so much from the well that is property taxes. It keeps the state out of our paychecks and allows workers to keep more of the money they earn. We should keep things just the way they are.