When voters went to the polls on Tuesday, March 10, they were asked to sign a petition requesting the state return rooms and meals tax revenue to New Hampshire communities – a move that could save Bedford nearly $1.2 million in revenues.

Town Manager Russ Marcoux and Councilor Bob Young are expected to appear before a House Finance/Ways and Means Committee public hearing on the state budget at the Legislative Office Building at 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 17. This is the final of four hearings held in Concord, Salem, Claremont and Whitefield, said Marcoux.

To help close the deficit in the state budget, Gov. John Lynch had proposed withholding revenue from the rooms and meals tax and other shared revenues, which would cost Bedford $1,204,000 – $931,000 from rooms and meals tax, $157,000 in revenue sharing and $116,000 in increased retirement costs due to the cost-shifting proposal from 35 to 30 percent. These are the three component parts of the petition, Marcoux said.

By presenting the petition to state officials, Marcoux and Young hope to send a message that withholding the money would undoubtedly impact taxpayers.

“(We want) to get them to understand that if this revenue is not returned to the budget that our community stands to lose this revenue, which is in our budget, which means a possible 36 cent increase in our local rate,” said Marcoux. “Or, it would force the town to reduce the current budget by that amount with half of the year done.”

The governor has now asked the Legislature to return the rooms and meals tax to the budget for the communities, as he is recommending that the stimulus money is to be used for education.

Marcoux said by signing the petition, voters showed they agree with the request, something that could persuades state officials.

“Petitions with signatures from voters has an impact on elected folks,” said Marcoux. “We plan to give a copy to the chair of each committee, the House Speaker, Senate president and the governor.”