Towns seeing spikes as tax rates are set

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:40:00 GMT

BY GINGER KOZLOWSKI

Tax rates are being set for the year, and some towns, like Candia, are seeing large increases.

Candia
In Candia, the new tax rate increased by $2.31 per $1,000 of property value, to $20.90, a 12 percent hike.

The new rate will result in a bill of $5,225 for the owner of a home assessed at $250,000, about $577 higher than last year.

The town portion of the rate is responsible for the bulk of the hike, going from $2.75 to $4.40, a 60 percent increase. The school portion rose from $12.12 to $12.72; the county portion from $1.08 to $1.09; and the state portion from $2.64 to $2.69.

Epsom
In Epsom, the tax rate rose from $15.14 per $1,000 of property value to $17.35, a 14.5 percent increase. The owner of a $250,000 property should expect a bill of $4,337.50.

The town portion is $2.60, county portion is $2.51, state portion is $21.5, and the local school portion if $10.09.

Bills were expected to be mailed soon, said Epsom tax collector Dawn Blackwell, with payment due by Dec. 15.

Auburn
In Auburn, the tax rate rose 85 cents per $1,000 of property value, moving from $13.71 to $14.55, a 6 percent increase. The owner of a home valued at $250,000 can expect a tax bill of $3,637.50.

The town portion of the rate rose from $1.91 to $2.26; the school portion from $8.57 to $9.09; and the county portion from 90 cents to 94 cents. The state portion of the tax rate actually decreased from $2.33 to $2.26.

Auburn tax collector Kathleen Sylvia said bills were to be mailed by Nov. 7 and are due by Dec. 10.

Pembroke
The 2008 rate rose $2.16 to $25.82, a 9 percent increase. The town portion is $5.69, down 29 cents; the school portion is $14.98, up $2.15; the state school portion is $2.44, up 3 cents; and the county portion is $2.71; up 27 cents.

At the Town Meeting in March, the Pembroke Budget Committee had predicted a 7.6 percent tax increase for the town and school operating budgets and warrant articles.

At the School District Meeting, voters restored money that would have resulted in staffing and sports team cuts, so the 9 percent increase is very close to what was predicted in March.

Allenstown
Tax rate information was not available by press time.

Allenstown election results

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:27:00 GMT

Allenstown School Candidates
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

School Board Member, for three years, vote for two
• Stedman Holton – 379
• Carl Shaefer – 424
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School District Clerk, for one year, vote for one
• (write-in)
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School District Treasurer, for one year, vote for one
• Henriette Girard – 564
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School District Moderator, for one year, vote for one
• Dennis Fowler – 542
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Voter turnout: 676
Registered voters: 2,720 Turnout: 25%

Allenstown School Warrants
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

Article 1: Shall the District vote to raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant article and other operations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $9,954,853? Should this article be defeated, the operating budget shall be $9,838,008, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the school district, or by law; or the governing body may hold one special meeting in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only.
(Approval of the proposed School District budget will result in a projected $3.20 per $1,000 increase in the tax rate. Rejection of the proposed budget will result in a projected $2.80 per $1,000 increase in the tax rate under the Default Budget.)
Yes................................244     • No................................404
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Article 2: Shall the District vote to raise and appropriate the cost items set forth in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Allenstown School Board and the Allenstown Paraprofessional Association for the 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, and the 2001/12 fiscal years which calls for the following increases in salaries and benefits:
    Year 2008/09    $58,802
    Year 2009/10    $40,745
    Year 2010/11    $40,960
    Year 2011/12    $47,628
And further raise and appropriate the sum of $58,802 for the fiscal year, such sum representing the additional costs attributable to the increase in salaries and benefits over those of the appropriation at current staffing levels paid in the prior fiscal year?
(Approval of the collective bargaining agreement will result in a projected .20 per $1,000 increase in the tax rate.)
Yes................................274     • No................................373
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Article 3: Shall the District vote to raise and appropriate the sum of up to $10,000 (from surplus) to be added to the Building Maintenance Trust Fund previously established, with such amount to be funded from the June 30, 2008, unreserved fund balance available for transfer on July 1, 2008?
Yes................................314     • No................................330
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Article 4: Shall the District vote to raise and appropriate the sum of up to $10,000 (from surplus) to be added to the Facilities Acquisition Capital Reserve Fund previously established, with such amount to be funded from the June 30, 2008, unreserved fund balance available for transfer on July 1, 2008?
Yes................................276     No................................368

Allenstown Town Candidates
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

Town Clerk, for one year, vote for one
• Diane Demers – 620
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Town Treasurer, for one year, vote for one
• Bernadette Lafond – 582
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Selectman, for three years, vote for one
Larry Anderson – 17
Thomas Irzyk – 111
Richard D. Keeley – 132
• Roger A. LaFleur – 199
Robert Lee – 21
Sandy McKenney – 154
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Sewer Commissioner, for three years, vote for one
• Charles Martel – 549
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Trustee of Trust Funds, for three years, vote for one
• Larry Anderson – 512
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Trustee of Trust Funds, for two years, vote for one
• (write-in)
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Trustee of Cemeteries Fund, for three years, vote for one
• Larry Anderson – 488
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Trustee of Cemeteries Fund, for two years, vote for one
• (write-in)
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Road Agent, for two years, vote for one
David H. Bouffard – 151
James Rodger – 128
• Chris Roy – 369
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Budget Committee, for three years, vote for four
• Larry Anderson – 365
• Stephanie Cheney – 436
• (write-in)
• (write-in)
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Budget Committee, for two years, vote for two
• (write-in)
• (write-in)
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Budget Committee, for one year, vote for one
• (write-in)
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Library Trustee, for three years, vote for one
• (write-in) Paul Coviello – 10
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Town Moderator, for one year, vote for one
• Dennis Fowler – 545
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Supervisor of the Checklist, for six years, vote for one
• Gabriel Daneault – 564

Allenstown Town Warrants
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

Zoning warrants:
Article 2: Amends the zoning ordinance regarding the size and location of utility sheds and greenhouses.
• Yes................................374     No................................269
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Article 3: Amends the zoning ordinance regarding the location of manufactured housing in a manufactured housing park.
• Yes................................460     No................................179
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Article 4: Amends the zoning ordinance regarding the size and placement of parking spaces.
• Yes................................446     No................................179
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Article 5: Amends the zoning ordinance to comply with requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program.
• Yes................................451     No................................167
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Town articles:
Article 6: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $15 million for the purpose of financing the upgrade and improvements to the Suncook Wastewater Treatment Facility; to authorize the issuance of not more the $14,750,000 of bonds or notes in accordance with the provision of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA Chapter 33) and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon; furthermore to authorize the use of up to $250,000 from the Dec. 31 fund balance for this purpose (this amount is equivalent to the interest earned on bond proceeds transferred to the general fund on or before Dec. 31); and further to authorize the town of Allenstown to contract for and expend any federal and state aid available for the project or for which the project is or may be eligible so as to reduce the town's share of the total cost; and to take all other action necessary to carry out and complete this project. Repayment of the cost of this project will be shared by the town of Allenstown and town of Pembroke, whereby Pembroke will reimburse Allenstown for Pembroke's share of the cost, under the terms and conditions of the Intermunicipal Agreement between the town of Allenstown and the town of Pembroke for wastewater service, provided that, consistent with said agreement, revenue received from septage permits and fees by Allenstown shall be used to help offset the costs of septage processing and any excess revenues may be used to offset the costs of operation and maintenance of the SWTF or necessary upgrades of the SWTF. Thereafter, surplus revenue received from septage permits and fees shall be applied to payment of the cost of the bond. The town of Allenstown's share of the total cost is $7.2 million (48 percent). The town of Pembroke's share of the cost is $7.8 million. 60 percent ballot vote required. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................264     • No................................388
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Article 7: Shall the town of Allenstown raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein totaling $5,057, 964? Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $4,865,968, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the town of Allenstown or by law, or the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13 X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operations budget only. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................272     • No................................370
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Article 8: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500 to be placed in the Police Computer Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................316     • No................................345
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Article 9: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500 to be placed in the Police Cruiser Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................280     • No................................381
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Article 10: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $6,000 to be placed in the Police Safety Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................304     • No................................352
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Article 11: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $7,000 to be placed in the Special Revenue DARE Fund. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................313     • No................................341
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Article 12: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000 to be placed in the Public Safety Revolving Fund established under the provisions of RSA 31:95-h to be used specifically for the response by public safety services to a disaster declared by the Board of Selectmen.
Yes................................303     • No................................306
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Article 13: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $191,000 to be offset by 25 percent to be raised by taxation in the amount of $47,750 as the town's 25 percent matching funds and expend an additional $143,250 from the state of New Hampshire, 75 percent matching funds through the Hazard Mitigation Grant (Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management). Said funds to be used to reconstruct the Mount Delight Road culvert and associated planning, engineering and construction costs. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................268     • No................................353
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Article 14: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500 to be placed in the Town Safety Expendable Trust Fund. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................236     • No................................376
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Article 15: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 to be placed in the Allenstown Fire Department Safety Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................268     • No................................353
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Article 16: To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen into a 10-year lease agreement for $450,000 to replace the Allenstown Fire Department's 1976 American LaFrance (Engine 2), 1981 American LaFrance (Engine 1) and 1960 tanker with a new 2,500-gallon pumper/tanker truck and to raise and appropriate $55,700 for the first year's payment for that purpose. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................250     • No................................375
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Article 17: To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to enter into a five-year lease agreement for $36,800 to purchase a skid steerer and raise and appropriate the sum of $8,293 for the first year's payment for that purpose. This lease agreement contains an escape clause. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................92     • No................................523
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Article 18: To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to enter into a five-year lease agreement for $83,900 to purchase a Highway Department loader and raise and appropriate the sum of $22,800 for the first year's payment for that purpose. This lease agreement contains an escape clause. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................238     • No................................382
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Article 19: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 to be placed in the Highway Garage Capital Reserve Fund. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................292     • No................................325
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Article 20: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 to be placed in the Landfill Closure Capital Reserve Fund. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................308     • No................................339
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Article 21: To see if the town will vote to change the purpose of the Town Hall Roof Capital Reserve Fund to the Town Hall Repairs, Maintenance and Renovation Capital Reserve Fund. (2/3 vote required) This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................405 (62%)     • No................................248 (38%)
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Article 22: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500 to be placed in the Recreation Capital Reserve Fund. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................272     • No................................374
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Article 23: To see if the town will vote to create a Capital Reserve Fund to be known as the Library Facility Capital Reserve Fund, for the purpose of planning, engineering, repairing and maintaining the portico and other parts of the exterior of the Allenstown Library and further to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000 to be placed in the fund and to name the Board of Trustees of the Allenstown Public Library as agents to expend. This article is not recommended by the Board of Selectmen but is recommended by the Budget Committee.
Yes................................227     • No................................420
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Article 24: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500 to be placed in the Old Allenstown Meeting House Capital Reserve Fund. This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.
Yes................................221     • No................................424
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Article 25: To see if the town will vote to change the current method from electing a Road Agent for a term of three years to authorizing the Board of Selectmen to appoint a Road Agent annually, pursuant to RSA 231:62. The appointment of a Road Agent will commence at the end of the current elected term in 2010.
Yes................................253     • No................................390
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Article 26 (by petition): The flooding of the Suncook in 2006 and 2007 was very costly to the residents and taxpayers of Allenstown. It is widely believed that the dams along the Suncook, including the Webster Mill Dam, could have been a major contributor to the severity of flooding in our town. This dam is owned and controlled by the Algonquin Power Fund, a corporation based in Ontario, Canada. The N.H. Dept. of Environmental Services claims that it cannot force the current dam owners to operate the dam in any different manner which could better control flooding. Therefore, in the interest of more responsive and responsible dam operation, we urge the town of Allenstown to petition the state and NHDES Dam Management Bureau to arrange for authorization and control of this dam by the NHDES Dam Bureau, both in anticipation of a declared state of emergency as well as during a declared state of emergency in Allenstown. Furthermore, we declare that the town petition the state to procure such control by whatever means necessary, including but not limited to, revocation of the right to operate the dam, and/or the taking of the dam by means of eminent domain. This is to be done in the interest of public safety. If passed, the Board of Selectmen is hereby authorized and encouraged to petition our local state representatives, senators and the governor to pursue such agreements with the dam's owners.
• Yes................................494     No................................145

Candia News : Allenstown

Towns seeing spikes as tax rates are set

Allenstown election results