YOUR COMMENTS

My taxes in Candia were $7100.00 per year . More than $500.00 per month in taxes as a couple in our late 60's. For the first time in my life I had to walk away from our home and file bankruptcy.

I've always believed this has been the design of the Marxists and socialists who have infiltrated and taken over our schools, government, colleges and courts.
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Incrementally raising taxes on good people to pay for schools has been, in my mind, the trump card to defeat ownership of property. Schools and a cost per student of more than $7000.00 per student ? The Marxists who run the towns and school boards cannot get enough tax money nor do they effectively manage without spending the taxpayers into oblivion.

I would warn everyone that talking with these people is over. There has been too much reticence and apathy for years. You are now in the stranglehold of a tyrannical government at the town, state and federal level.

You have a guarantee in the constitution to end it by refusing to pay property taxes as a group in solidarity. As a unified group you have more strength to dictate change across the board by cutting costs in these towns and states. Stop the taxes and you have the position of strength to cut budgets. That's what it will take. Just have the courage of your convictions and stare them in the face without surrender.

I've lost everything because I didn't take a stand. We lost our home on Flint Road in Candia, our car, our savings, our home down payment all gone. I'm too old to start over but you have a chance to effect change by taking a stand together.

This tyranny against the people has got to end. Let this revolt start in New Hampshire the same way our forefathers created this nation. End Tyrannical Government. Now.

ETG !
- Mach, Candia, NH

This is fun! Zizzy thinks that union members are in control of businesses. I bet he has never met a union man nor read anything nor learned anything about what unions have done for him. Unless of course, ole Zizzy is another one of those rich greedy fat cats that come here to commiserate about why he and his ilk are having increasing difficulty finding their way on to the gravy train of no bid contracts and government handouts to business. Unions had a major part in creating the middle class. Now, of course, many claim that they got their higher wages on their own. Just look at them and sigh, as Joni Mitchell used to sing. Only take credit for things you did - that's the New Hampshire way.
- Bobo, Deerfield

With such a large number of towns clearly moving in the direction of MORE Fiscal Responsibility do you think Congress and Concord will take note?

In particular I'm curious to see if our 2 Reps in the House who historically vote lock step with the Speaker will take note.

Lets not forget the voting record of the junior Senator we just sent to DC who's motto thus far appears to be "Spend Spend Spend".

If we don't get spending under control Locally and Federally we are committing ourselves and our children to levels of debt that are absolutely staggering
- JP, Warner

"We need to stop[ electing based on race, gender, or any other feel good thing we are made to feel bad about like green". Obama was elected because of race? Really? A republican would have won if Obama was white? Oh really? Satisfaction with the republican agenda was so high that were it not for America electing a man based on his race (for reasons undefined), McCain would have won? Flawless logic, and not so cleverly disguised racism.
- Dorothy, Concord

But dumb thing is, people believed the propaganda for both anti-SB2 and GSFTC anti-pledge.

Word to the wise: Epsom voted 3-1 NOT to repeal SB2 because PRIVATE BALLOT IS BEST. Once you have it you will never want to let it go.

And the GSFTC can NEVER give you an example of a state whose property taxes were lowered by instituting an income or sales tax. It would just be another tax! So why you voted for it in Hudson (while wisely rejecting forced kdgn) is lost on me.

As for Candia maybe you should put that money into an extra cop to stop horse thieves from running their trailers with tape over the plates!
- Sue, Manchester

This vote is encouraging. It would be nice to see my beloved New Hampshire regain it`s status of a state of common sense in the New England Sea of Moonbats ( I plagiarize Howie Carr ) I only hope and pray this trend will carry over to the national elections.
- Vic Chiasson, Derry

Wow, what a great article to get people talking.

Ross from Derry, I agree with you that people need to be informed before they vote. Unfortunately when I arrived at the voting booth 30 minutes before voting closed the total tally of cast votes(for half of derry) was under 1000. Our taxes are among the highest in the state and we get arguably no more beyond pinkerton acadamy for bending over for the town. Derry certainly has a lot more that can be done economically. The "derry ambulance" is a huge expenditure and is actually a private company subsidized by Derry Tax Dollars. We have snow plow drivers who like to plow an extra-two to six feet on Derry Roads. While the towen is not responsible for damage as far back as 8 feet, why are we paying for plowing of non-roads. Wasteful spending and disregard for public money(read YOUR MONEY) is an important first step to putting money back into resident's pockets.

We can learn a lot from the state of California, where the governator said a huge multibillion dollar budget defecit exists. There is no budget deficit there or in NH. There is wasteful spending on non-essential projects. many NH residents like to pay taxes though and in fact will vote to encourage them. Look at jeanne the purse shaheen. She doubled the NH budget in her term as governor and still was elected to the US senate. And what do we have to attribute to her legacy other than a much increased budget? Educational ranking in the US? NOPE. Better overall quality of life? NOPE. just more of your money being spent by others who are smarter and know better than you or I. After all you are too stupid to manage your won money right? It is much better off in the pockets of people who foment hatred of the "rich".

Look at the stimulus bill before you decide about more taxes. Where di that money come from? The answer is obvious unless you only listen to the communist news network or msnbc, which is unlikley if you read this (thank god) conservative paper. Hilary Clinton was in China a few weeks ago, not as ambassador, but as national beggar. Thats right we borrowed money from China in the form of bonds which Hilary begged them to buy. The interest on the national debt is now approximately 500 billion per year. That amounts to over $1600.00 for every citizen in the US.

Fiscal responsibility starts with each of us (Americans). It is so easy to vote to increase taxes especially if some of that tax money benefits you. This is such a viscous cycle. Almost 50% of American's will pay no taxes on 2009 income. Who do you think they will vote for? Whoever promises to tax OTHERs and pay the. This in turn leads to laziness and disappearing prosperity. Many jobs are moving to other countries and more importantly many companies are moving to other countries.

I love my career choice of oncology or would take up the political riens to fight for the constitution of the United States including making sense of the 16th amendment(right to levy federal income tax) and of the 10th amnedment, that not in the constitution is reserved to states. Call me leech killer, but it is companies and not the goverment that CREATES wealth and jobs. Ok the government creates jobs, a few jobs with not always great pay but GREAT protection from termination.

A solution is easy and would help both individual citizens and corporations prosper. In our current system the government spends money, then decides how to get it through taxes, extortion etc. Instead why do we not hold them accountable to common sense? Levy taxes as a fixed percent of income based on toal income. This is similar to what we have now, i.e. 28% tax for individuals making between $100,000 and $250,000. Keep the tax rate constant year to year. Remove the marriage tax. Add tax breaks for parents who have students with a B or better GPA. Offer incentives to drive growth and wealth creation. Do not tax the middle class unfairly. Make acceptable deductions crystal clear.

Then the federal government knows about how much it will make for the next fiscal year and can decide how to spend within it limits. Individuals and Families and Companies willl know how much to expect to pay in taxes regardless of who is in the white house. if the federal government wants more money, then they can work on programs to make America more successful.

If this doesn't make sense ask yourself: How does an individual get ahead win the current system? and How does the federal government get more money in the current system?

I belive the best way now to get ahead is to make less than the "rich" cut off nobama wants and rely on the government as much as possible. The government gets more money the obvious way, they tax you and borrow money on your behalf. Im pretty sure if I went into bank of amgo and took a loan out in your name and spent the money, you would be a little mad. So why aren't you mad when nobama and hilary do the same thing?

In my proposed fiscally responsible tax plan everyone gets ahead by the success of american citizens and corporations. it all comes down to wealth creation vs distribution.
- Michael E Layon, Derry

After 70 yrs. of living in N.H. I was finally driven out by the high property taxes. My last home was in Pittsfield N.H. where my property taxes doubled to over 8,000.00dollars in just 7 yrs. Good luck people of N.H.
- james ranfos, canton ga.

It not the time for towns to spend money and they know that . but still they try.
More and More people are moving out of the northeast and moving south because of Property taxes, Electric , and oil prices that are out of this world. And we all know they will never go down only up. can you afford this... towns should be looking to cut taxes not increasing taxes. Your property went down in value did your taxes? NO they went up. I'm getting close to retirement and looking to move to the midwest of south so I can enjoy my retirement and not have a heart attack when ever I get the electric bill or when the oil truck shows up. where property tax are in the hundreds not thousands. Just think what your family could do with that money. Say no to spending.
- -PETE, DEERFIELD

In Winchester we got a mailer from our select board to spend spend spend and we did. Its truly amazing, i give up.
- rich, winchester

Andy writes 'In at least one town, public safety has now suffered under the guise of "keeping taxes down."' I can't speak to the specific situation you are describing, but sadly sometimes important concerns are left under financed because of voter rebellion. Really the only responsible way to avoid this is for government officials to prioritize. Sadly the often intentionally do the opposite, holding important government functions hostage as it was to wasteful spending.
- Chabis, Peterborough

I would like to take the time to express my displeasure with the voters of Exeter. Although there were many 'No' votes on many articles, there were far too many 'Yes' votes.

The town residents voted irresponsibly in raising $4,000,000 in order to get matching funds from the goverment in order to fix an aging sewer system. Based off a tax base where the town budget is only a little over $19,000,000, do people understand that would constitute over a 20% tax increase!!!! That is insane.

I want to thank the people of Exeter for helping me put a for sale sign on the front of my house. I will not live in a town that spends money so easily like our neighbors in the south!!!! Its ironic that the birthplace of the repubican party has become so liberal!!!!!!
- Jeff, Exeter

Maybe people are finally waking up to the reality that we are all getting screwed by radicals in government who feel our money is easily spent on every hair brained scheme they come up with while only pretending to trim the budgets of the waste in them.

Maybe now after the royal screwing we are taking from yet another slick talking president, and congress and our own local politicians who promise all sorts of things then do what they want instead we the people can start electing the best qualified politicians rather than those who make us feel good as they stick it to us. We need to stop[ electing based on race, gender, or any other feel good thing we are made to feel bad about like green. Maybe we could also go back to actually holding our elected people accountable for their failures and actions again.

If you can't take a half hour to look in to a candidate actual voting record or past accomplishments please don't vote. We also need to get rid of groups like ACORN who clearly have a political agenda and take away the vote of the average person while being funded with our tax dollars.
- Ross, Derry

Every big ticket item (and some of the small ones) including the operating budget for the town were defeated in Amherst. The Selectmen, apparently not noticing the imploding economy, wanted a total spending increase of 13.6%. The voters "adjusted" that somewhat. Meanwhile, the schools were very fiscally responsible and proposed a moderate 2% increase. The school budgets passed. The message has been sent. Will the Selectmen listen?
- Mark, Amherst

"I would recommend a union job. They tend to pay more, have benefits and accomplish something."

At what expense? I heard GM is doing really well these days...The Big Dig went great also.....

Someone with Robert's shortsightedness would recommend a union job and then blame the Republican Evil Greed Machine when that union job ends up in Mexico.
- Zizzy, Manchester

tHERE ARE SEVERAL people that came thru a two room school back in the 30's and we went thru college and we found success in life. Try and duplicate success with so many today.
- Fred Bosworth, Bow, NH

The editors are making this one kind of easy. Did anyone see the vote for a $38.25 million bond in Keene? Keene is still in NH, right?

I understand the argument about long term costs versus short term but with 86% supporting the bond to build a new school it would seem this editorial misses the mark.
- John R, Keene

Despite careful planning over the past 18 years, and even a reduction in the amount requested, the capital reserve fund for fire apparatus in Candia was defeated this year. With a new fire or rescue apparatus costing over $300,000, the burden on a town to front this money in one year is obscene. The fire department had requested $75,000 per year for about 5 years, and had been requesting $50,000 a year before that. This reduced the immediate cost to the town for some excellent pieces of apparatus that will serve the town well for years to come. For $50,000 to $75,000 a year, the town received two fire engines, a stopgap rescue vehicle, and, most recently, a $275,000 tanker. (The tanker was paid for mostly by a FEMA grant. Future grants are now in jeopardy due to the reduction of funding in the 2 years since the grant was received.)

This year, the request was REDUCED back to $50,000 in response to concerns about taxes, the economy, etc. The amount of money would have raised the capital reserve fund to a point which would have allowed the purchase of a new safe and reliable rescue vehicle. Despite this decrease, the article failed. The department has a critical need to replace a piece of apparatus that is unsafe and no longer suits the needs of the town, it's citizens, and visitors. In at least one town, public safety has now suffered under the guise of "keeping taxes down."
- Andy, Biddeford, ME

I believe we are watching the begining of a new era. People are stopping the extravagent spending and starting to save. People are cutting coupons and learning to live on less. The economy and government build on excessive spending is being rejected as peole learn that possesions are not the true value of a man and do not bring happiness. Either our elected politicians figure that out, or there will be new ones each election until they figure this out. I say hurray that people are starting to pay attention to government again. If we do not fix this soon, our elected leaders will send us and all future generations into debt. This would be a good time for many to read some of the words of Thomas Jefferson.
CONGRATULATIONS NEW HAMPSHIRE
- Gary, Mont Vernon

No, no, no, can't, shouldn't, oughtn't, fear, fear, degradation, evil, Democrats, liberals, ebole, salmonella, decay and I forgot, somebody actually trying to do something about our economy. When you whiners start producing some other ideas that don't involve cutting your taxes and raising everyone else's perhaps we'll tune in again. Conservative carping, whining, squealing, pleading is unAmerican to say nothing of unattractive. I would recommend a union job. They tend to pay more, have benefits and accomplish something.
- Bobby Bill, Deerfield

Madison voters refused to support a raise for the teachers. The Town has cut back to the bone including cutting back hours while the teachers had the nerve to ask for a raise!
- cleverdave, madison

You ask, "Were they listening?"

At the local level, 'they' don't have much choice but to listen because the voters can control the budgets directly.

On Tuesday, my town's voters said 'no' to anything that looked like increased spending. Some of the items were tiny; some were worthwhile; but people have reached the point of 'enough'. Tax delinquencies in the town are are up. People who have lived here all their lives are on the brink of becoming delinquent. Those who work in the private sector are taking pay cuts or worse. The public sector has to learn to expect the same.

The town takes up the bloated school budget on Saturday. It will be an interesting day.

At the Federal level, unless your name is Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, or someone who can give a large 'donation', the answer, sadly, is 'No'.

Even at the state level, where NH formerly had a reputation as a frugal, well-run state, the answer is, again, 'No'.

The NH legislature keeps piling on either taxes, or 'mandates', or feel-good, do-bad things like RGGI. All these things raise costs to the beleaguered taxpayer.
- Paul, Fremont

And fellow bloggers, do not claim that the federal election rejected this message. What happened is that the Republican candidate did not carry the message.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

Politicians don't listen. They seem to think they know what the people want. With any luck, both sides of the isle will wake up and take notice. In this economy, with people losing jobs, taking paycuts and losing their homes, they just cannot afford any more taxes. In my town, it will be working with last years' budget. People voted no more spending. Saturday the school budget gets voted on and hopefully it will fail as well. Time to take notice and see what the people want, not government.
- Ruthie, Fremont

I have not yet heard the results for Peterborough, but if the school districts plans for more borrowing was turned down it'd be a historic first. What amazes me is the deafness of school administrators who used a piece in a local newspaper to try to move their proposals ahead despite the situation being faced by many families and almost every institution in the community. Even the local not-for-profit artist collective had to temporarily (we hope!) close their exhibit space because of financial difficulties, but the school (and, sadly, the library) figured they'd just push forward with new, expensive, and not critically needed building plans. Don't these people see themselves as part of the community? It certainly appears not.
- Chabis, Peterborough

Possibly a false quantum leap by including "no new taxes." Unless, of course, you do not include a replacement tax. Reduce the dependence on property taxes and replace that portion with a sales tax. People, during economic downturns, can reduce their spending habits. During those same times, they would only be left with selling their property at possibly a distressed level. That would simply aid in furthering wealth transfer as those with money can wait on the sidelines and jump on those less fortunate. I do not agree with that part of your analysis of what the voters, in general, stated through their votes...
- Steve, Charlestown