Recently in Statewide issues Category
The Citizen Saturday, October 31, 2009
The money will be used to mitigate and control invasive milfoil in seven "test bed" lakes, which pose a high risk of spread to other waters.
The mission of the consortium is to address the milfoil infestation threat through a program of prevention, research, management, mitigation, and eradication through the application of "best practices."
The consortium says 26 Maine lakes are infested with variable leaf milfoil, which disturbs the ecology of lakes vital to recreational boaters, homeowners and businesses.
On Tuesday, March 17,2009 a Public Hearing of importance to all property owners was held at the Legislative Office Building in Concord, New Hampshire. At that time, the Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee and Committee Chair Jacalyn Cilley presided over testimony on Senate Bill 198 (SB 198) that proposes changes to the existing Assessing Standards Board.
The Assessing Standards Board (ASB) is responsible for recommending property taxation guidelines for assessing standards throughout the state, including development of the manual used by local assessing officials.
State Senator Deborah Reynolds, sponsor of SB 198, explained that the bill increases the number of public members on the ASB from 3 to 5 members in order to include more NH residents who are not trained in any specific area and are just average NH property tax payers. Additionally, the Board should be a people's board and therefore the chair should not be a legislator.
Executive Councilor Raymond Burton supported the bill, noting that SB 198 is nonpartisan and expressing his concern that more citizens are not given an opportunity to become involved in their government, including such boards and commissions. Of the ASB, he explained that "this is a perfect example of where more citizens should be involved" and dismissed arguments that citizens might have an agenda or might not be sufficiently informed to make decisions. He reminded everyone that guidance is always available from the Attorney General's Office. Councilor Burton added that about 700 nominations of citizens to our government go through the Governor's Executive Council each year and 99 percent of the time they've been very successful and they are a compliment to the citizenry of our state.
(A Note to Moultonborough Voters: The condescending argument used by some that citizens might have an agenda or not be sufficiently informed or educated enough to participate in the decisions of their own government will sound familiar because this ruse was recently used in Moultonborough to defeat SB2 and exclude the majority of voters from exercising their right to vote on town warrant articles. Apparently this argument against more citizen participation is also prevalent at the state level.)
Concern was expressed by those testifying in support of SB 198 that the current ASB has a disproportionate number of assessors and selectmen acting in this capacity and insufficient public representation. Those testifying against SB 198 insisted that assessing professionals can provide the greatest technical expertise, citing other state boards where professionals predominate.
Those supporting SB 198 represented a diverse group of NH citizens, including two from Moultonborough, who believe in more citizens being allowed to participate hi the decisions their government makes. Those opposing SB 198 were two assessors, a lawyer for the NH Municipal Association and one state representative.
All property owners should consider the benefits of Senate Bill 198, as it promotes greater representation by property owners. After viewing this video, you may want to express your views to Senator Cilley and her committee that held this hearing and is now considering the future of SB198. You may also want to contact SB198 supporters Senator Reynolds, Senator Gallus and Executive Councilor Burton. If you believe that the fight for citizens' rights is ongoing, make your voice heard and protect your rights by contacting legislators. Your letter could make the difference.
The Citizen
By NORMA LOVE
Associated Press Writer
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Lynch said all state spending — except for debt payments — is being scrutinized, including state aid to communities which has been immune to budget cuts in the past. Lynch did not estimate the size of the revenue-spending gap he is trying to fill for the budget that covers the two years beginning July 1.
He said indications are revenue will grow little or not at all until the economy rebounds, perhaps in a couple years. "This is not a forever problem," he said. Gary Smith, president of the State Employees Association, said laying off state workers would be counterproductive and prolong the economic recovery by putting more people out of work. "During tough economic times, people turn more to government for services," he said.
Lynch should wait and plug holes with federal stimulus funds, he said. Smith said Lynch also should look first to cutting back on consultants. The union represents most of the state's 11,500 workers. Lynch noted that the state provided $550 million in aid to communities, not counting school adequacy grants, over the last two years. State aid is for a range of programs, including school construction and direct aid to communities.
A new school aid formula will increase state adequacy grants in the next budget by roughly $100 million. Lawmakers developed the new aid system to comply with a constitutional mandate — but have frozen aid in the past to deal with economic cycles. "We're not looking — at this point — at level funding adequacy grants," Lynch said. But Lynch said he must examine all spending — including other local aid programs — because the times are extraordinary. "We are looking at all of our costs," he said. "I certainly don't want to downshift costs onto cities and towns, and I don't want to affect local property taxes. But we're all in this together." He said communities know they also need to defer nonessential spending. The state must consider the $550 million in aid in determining how to produce a balance budget, he said. Lynch said that he won't consider tax increases until he has cut spending. He reiterated his pledge to veto sales and income taxes.
"If you look at the revenue side first, you don't deal with the cost structure," he said.
He said he has not changed his position on gambling, a revenue source gambling advocates are pushing as a partial answer in the tough economic climate. "I would want to see compelling evidence that it doesn't impact our quality of life," he said. Lynch said he won't spare what he judges to be nonessential programs just to continue receiving federal matching funds. That could affect the social services the state provides.
In his inaugural address, Lynch outlined what he considers the state's core missions: public safety, education, helping the most vulnerable and preserving
Estimates are that the state might have to find itself as much as $400 million more in the next two years than it spent in the current two-year budget.
By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief
Union Leader Sunday November 30, 2008
While all the talk in Concord is about budget cuts, no one's talking about taxes. That will change -- soon. When the Legislature starts work in January, it will tackle bills to add or increase all sorts of taxes. Lawmakers have filed a dozen tax bills so far on gasoline, tobacco, bottles, beer, income (three of those), even fireworks. One resurrects the Legacy and Succession tax (better known as the death tax) that produced $25 million a year before it was repealed in 2002. Safety Commissioner John Barthelmes told lawmakers he'd like several bills to bump up a couple of fees his agency collects. Want to register your boat? Get ready to dig deeper to help the navigation safety fund that covers enforcement of boating speed limits…..
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By NORMA LOVE Associated Press Writer |
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) _ New Hampshire is cutting its budget by nearly another $60 million — reducing spending on everything from school aid construction to overtime.
Gov. John Lynch presented the areas to be cut Friday to the joint legislative Fiscal Committee, which approved them after a brief discussion. Lynch also recommended another $20 million in steps that will require legislative action when lawmakers convene next year.
Even with those steps, Lynch said another $75 million must be found to balance this year's budget.
"We are in the midst of an unprecedented global economic crisis," Lynch told the committee. "When we crafted the state budget 18 months ago, no one could have predicted the depths to which our nation's economy would sink."
Since February, Lynch and lawmakers have used a variety of spending cuts and revenue measures to deal with declining revenue. The latest cuts bring the total amount trimmed to about $150 million, roughly 5 percent of the $3.2 billion in spending from general tax sources in the two-year budget. The total budget is $10.3 billion when spending from federal and other sources is included.
Lynch characterized Friday's actions as another step and reiterated his pledge to balance the budget....
Cameron said she was most recently paying $4,800 in taxes — a $1,000 increase from three years ago. In 2005, the city tax rate was $19.61. For 2008, the rate is $23.43.
"That's $400 a month in taxes alone," Cameron said.
November 14th, 2008
By JENNIFER KEEFE
jkeefe@fosters.com
SOMERSWORTH — Nancy Cameron's new place has a bathroom attached to her bedroom. Her dog, a pug/dachshund mix named Dewey, has been enjoying the yard. And her utilities will likely cost less each month.
But, she says, "it's not home anymore."
The place she's called home for the past 19 years on
She and her partner split up three years ago, and she was left trying to pay mounting costs by herself. It seemed like everything stopped being possible.
"You factor in all those things — credit card payments, car payments. You're kind of robbing Peter to pay Paul," she said. "But still, providing that home life that was important to me. I held on as long as I could, but once it starts taking you under, you realize you're getting nowhere fast."
Cameron said she was most recently paying $4,800 in taxes — a $1,000 increase from three years ago.
In 2005, the city tax rate was $19.61. For 2008, the rate is $23.43.
"That's $400 a month in taxes alone," Cameron said.
She has also experienced the crunch of rising utility costs, with about $330 a month going to oil and $143 for electricity. She said she's always been on a budget plan but paying for those expenses on her own got harder and harder — and then impossible.
She tried to stay in Somersworth — where after more than 20 years in the city she had volunteered for nearly every organization and cause — but couldn't find an affordable place that would allow dogs.
And with all the changes she was going through in her life, there was no way she was moving without Dewey.
"Keeping the dog was stable," she said, laughing as she talked about how happy he is to see her when she comes home from work.
She also said she thought her sons were having trouble dealing with the possibility of giving Dewey away.
But it had been a real possibility for Cameron, just like having to move.
"You never dream of stuff like this," she said. "There's no relief out there. You can only refinance so many times. You can't do it on your own."
Today, her duplex in
"I cry a lot because I'm letting go of so much of myself in this community," she said. "You feel like an outsider because you don't live here. It's just a weird aspect of your life." Cameron boasts a long list of city activism, starting with being supervisor of the checklist for 15 years, a School Board member for eight years, high school class adviser, deacon at the
She also spearheaded the project to bring lights to the high school's football field and serves on the International Children's Festival board. "I've had quite a run," she said nostalgically. It's only been a week in her new place so she's expecting things will get easier down the road. Until then, she still has a lot to think about.
She said she doesn't think she'll see any real financial relief from her move for about a year. "I'm at a point now where I have to look for a second job," she said, wondering if juggling two jobs will be possible. She works as a department manager at the Wal-Mart in
She's not even sure she could find a second job right now.
Cameron's challenges don't end there. She's trying to put her son, Sean, 21, through college at
"I'd be damned if I wasn't going to let (Sean) go to college," she said. "I was going to get him those loans he needed. He works, he does what he should do to earn money while he's home."
She's expecting a lot of debt.
She's also expecting to owe money when tax season rears its head again in April because she's doing a short sale on her home. A short sale prevents foreclosure by allowing the home to sell for less than the outstanding balance of the loan and the bank to assume the proceeds. Still, Cameron will have to claim on her taxes the difference between the home's list price and what it sells for.
"I tried to redeem myself a little bit," she said. "It looks better with the bank if you try to work something out."
But, she added, there has to be some good that can come out of the situation.
"Everything happens for a reason," she said.
"Either you're going to go under, or you're going to pull yourself out," she said. "You've got to do what you've got to do. Trying to do it yourself is impossible these days and every time I come in here, I cry. But in a year or so, I'll see it wasn't so bad to do what I did. I still need a place to call home."
By Daniel Barrick Concord Monitor November 9, 2008
Like a homeowner struggling with stagnant wages and rising health care and energy costs, the state of
November 9, 2008
By GARRY RAYNO
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
New Hampshire so far has escaped the brunt of the economic calamities befalling the rest of the United States, but amid reports of surging national unemployment rates, several local economists warned that Granite State is far from immune.While the state's residents and businesses have not experienced the credit freeze plaguing the nation, they have found it more difficult to qualify for loans. And while New Hampshire's unemployment rate for September remained relatively low at 4.1 percent, that was the highest it had been in more than four years.State unemployment information for October won't be available until the Department of Employment Security releases it one week from tomorrow, but the national rate is out, and it's ominous: 6.5 percent, the highest level in 14 years. Altogether in 2008, more than 1.2 million Americans have lost their jobs."The
Gains and losses
In the first nine months of the year, the state's hardest-hit industries were hospitality, with 1,500 jobs lost, and construction, down 1,300 jobs. Manufacturing lost 700 jobs; information services another 100.The manufacturing sector is struggling, said Anita Josten, a research analyst with the ELMIB, but that is part of the economic evolution. "It's not concentrated in any one industry," she said of the manufacturing sector. "We have a good diversification. While weaker industries are struggling, others are doing well." Some sectors, meanwhile, have undergone recent reversals of fortune.The trades, transportation and utilities sector had a net gain of 1,200 jobs in the first three quarters, but that included 600 jobs lost in September. Likewise the financial services sector had a net gain of 400 jobs for the first three quarters, but that included 100 jobs lost in September. Pending October's employment numbers, the state's biggest winner to date has been the professional services industry, with a gain of 2,600 jobs. Education and health services has added 900, and government at all levels has added 400.
Economic independence
Of the state's 655,500-member workforce, approximately 100,000 are self-employed, Francese notes. "A lot of highly educated and highly skilled people have moved to the state, with a large number working for themselves and in the high-tech industry," he said. "They are smart enough and skilled enough not to be concerned about plant closings because they will find another job pretty quickly." Even though it has slowed,
Warning signs, and hope
Russ Thibeault, president of Applied Economic Research of Laconia, said that while
…the settlement ….is being paid through the town's liability insurer, the
By GRETA CUYLER
Special to the Union Leader
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008
Hooksett has paid $205,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by two former employees who were fired for gossiping about their boss.Former Assessor Sandy Piper and former Code Enforcement Officer Michelle Bonsteel received money for back pay, compensatory damages and attorney fees.According to the settlement agreement, Hooksett has paid Piper a total of $140, 000, including $55,000 in lost pay, $49,401 in compensatory damages and $35,599 in attorney fees. The town paid Bonsteel $44,501 in compensatory damages and $20,499 in attorney fees.Piper and Bonsteel were fired by the town council in April 2007 after an attorney's investigation determined the women had been gossiping about Town Administrator David Jodoin. Discussing the settlement last night, Piper said, "I wanted it done. There's more to life than the bickering and pettiness that goes on with politics. Life goes on."As part of the settlement, both former employees agreed to waive any rights under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act. The town denied any liability or wrongdoing in either case."I'm glad it's over," said Town Councilor Michael Pischetola, who was not on the council at the time of the firings. "I believe that everybody who was involved is happy with the judgment."
►Hooksett administrator taking Pembroke job
►$130,000 paid to two of 'Hooksett Four' (10)
►One of 'Hooksett Four' is employee of the year (9)
Shortly after the firings, the town council released a statement calling the women's actions "insubordinate" and "dishonest."Taxpayers will not be on the hook for the settlement, which is being paid through the town's liability insurer, the Local Government Center.At the same time Piper and Bonsteel were fired, the council fired two other employees. Jessica Skorupski and Joanne Drewniak. Both women filed lawsuits against the town, and each received a $65,000 settlement earlier this year. In all, the firings cost the town's insurance company more than $330,000. The four women had nearly 50 years of combined service to the town. All had positive performance reviews.Skorupski went on to find full-time employment as a dispatcher with the Goffstown Police Department. In January, Goffstown named her "Employee of the Year."According to the settlement agreements, both Piper and Bonsteel agreed never to apply for a job with the Town of
Bonsteel's case was different from the others. In August 2007, the council reversed its decision to fire her by a vote of 5-1 and reinstated her with back pay and a letter of reprimand. Seven months later, in March 2008, Bonsteel resigned. At that time, she said she had accepted another job in
Bonsteel could not be reached for comment yesterday. Hooksett agreed to remove Piper's termination letter from her employment file and give her a favorable letter of recommendation, according to the settlement."The majority of the community feels the four of us should never have been terminated," Piper said. "That's all I care about, that I can hold my head up in the community."Last week, Town Administrator David Jodoin announced he will leave Hooksett to take a job as administrator in Pembroke beginning Dec. 1.He will earn $72,000 in Pembroke, $18,000 less than he has been earning in Hooksett. Jodoin said he's looking forward to an easier work schedule and the opportunity to spend more time with his family
The Citizen Ocotber 29, 2008
By GAIL OBER
gober@citizen.com
As the national economy worsens, area economists and statisticians are keeping an eye on residential sales as an indicator of the overall health on
Countywide, recently released third quarter statistics show residential real estate sales in
According to information provided by the New Hampshire Association of Realtors indicated the number of sales dropped from 225 in the third quarter of 2007 to 177 in the third quarter for this year. On a positive note, the values of those third quarter
"There is some seasonality or certain sales that are associated with lakefront property in September," said New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority Housing Research Director Dan Smith who said the summer buying season generally ends in September, and he was not surprised that the overall values for Belknap County were higher than the rest of the state.
As to the number of sales, local economist Russ Thibeault of Applied Economic Research said he thinks many people are giving second thoughts to second-home purchases and he is not surprised to see the number of sales lower than last year even though value appears to be holding it own.
What concerns both Smith and Thibeault is the rising number of foreclosures.
Smith said the number foreclosures in the state could reach 3,500 — a 70 percent increase over last year. In
"Remember," said Smith. "There is a negative effect of foreclosure on property taxes."
He said when a property goes into foreclosure, somebody still owns it, so property taxes will be paid and are often recoverable from the next purchaser, but revenue streams can slow.
As to declining values, an overall declining value means a higher tax rate to maintain constant spending — as in the 9 cent jump in
Smith said he does not expect
The state, he said, has a much larger issue.
"When sales are off by 20 percent, as they have been the past three years, it represents a significant hit to the state for its revenue," said Smith.
WMUR recently reported the state's projected revenue for fiscal year 2009 could be as much as $250 million short. Gov. John Lynch has already trimmed $90 million from the state budget, but legislators may be forced to eliminate an additional $160 million in spending before June 2009.
