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.

Epsom election results

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:05:00 GMT

Epsom School Candidates
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

School Board Member, for three years, vote for two
• Michael S. Wiggett – 582
• (write-in)
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Voter turnout: 933
Registered voters: xxx Turnout: xxx%

Epsom 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 articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by the vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $8,071,443? Should this article be defeated, the operating budget shall be $7,904,002, 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 my old 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 project $1.25 per $1,000 increase in the tax rate. Rejection of the proposed budget will result in a projected 88 cent per $1,000 increase in the tax rate under the default budget. The School Board and the Budget Committee recommend approval.
Yes................................382     • No................................536
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Article 2: Shall the district vote to raise and appropriate the sum of up to $25,000 (from surplus) to be added to the Building Maintenance and Repair Trust Fund previously established, with such amount to be funded from the June 30, 2008, unreserved fun balance available for transfer n July 1, 2008. The School Board and the Budget Committee recommend approval.
• Yes................................570     No................................347
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Article 3: Shall the district vote to raise and appropriate the cost items set forth in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Epsom School Board and the Epsom Support Staff Association for the 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 fiscal years, which calls for the following increase in salaries and benefits:
    Year 2008-09    $36,292
    Year 2009-10    $32,726
    Year 2010-11    $35,671
    Year 2011-12    $32,583
and further to raise and appropriate the sum of $36,292 for the 2008-09 fiscal year, such sum representing 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 8 cent per $1,000 increase in the tax rate.
• Yes................................482     No................................428
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Article 4: Shall the district vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $34,884 for the 2008-09 school year for the purpose of providing bus transportation to Epsom students attending Pembroke Academy? Approval of this article will result in a projected 8 cent per $1,000 increase in the tax rate.
Yes................................394     • No................................521
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Article 5: Shall the district vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $78,069 for removal of asbestos flooring and installation of replacement flooring at Epsom Central School? Approval of this article will result in a projected 17 cent per $1,000 increase in the tax rate.
• Yes................................467     No................................446

Epsom Town Candidates
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

Selectman, for one year, vote for one
• Keith Cota – 732
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Selectman, for two years, vote for one
• Robert H. Blodgett – 684
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Selectman, for three years, vote for one
• Joanne Randall – 703
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Treasurer, for one year, vote for one
• Paula Smith – 760
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Overseeer of Public Welfare, for one year, vote for one
• Lee Margosian-Bartlett – 727
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Trustee of Trust Funds, for three years, vote for one
• (write-in) Tim Harkness – 5
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Library trusteee, for three years, vote for one
• Cherylann Arvanitis – 743
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Planning Board, for three years, vote for two
• Philip Demeritt Jr. – 614
• John F. Hickey – 584
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Cemetery Trustee, for two years, vote for one
• (write-in) Gary Kitson – 7
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Cemetery Trustee, for three years, vote for one
• Carol McGuire – 690
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Budget Committee, for one year, vote for one
• Larry Yeaton – 704
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Budget Committee, for three years, vote for three
• Marylou J. LaFleur-Keane – 475
• Carol McGuire – 469
• David Fiorentino – 451
Greg (Whitey) Foss – 433
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Supervisor of the Checklist, for two years, vote for one
• Valerie Long – 733
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Supervisor of Checklist, for six years, vote for one
• Joshua Virgin – 436
Mary E. Frambach – 365

Epsom Town Warrants
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

By petition: Are you in favor of increasing the board of selectmen to five members? Majority vote required.
Yes................................275     • No................................495
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Article 1: Shall the town of Epsom 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 the vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $2,882,220? Should the article be defeated, the operating budget shall be $2,469,882, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the town 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 town operating budget will result in a projected increase of $1.19 per $1,000 over the 2007 operating budget. The default budget will result in a projected increase of 28 cents per $1,000.
Yes................................304     • No................................601
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Article 2: In the event that Article 1, the operating budget, fails and the town received a default budget, shall the town of Epsom raise and appropriate the sum of $15,264 to pay the third annual payment of the four-year lease/purchase agreement for the Highway F550 truck? Majority vote required; this appropriation is in addition to the default operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen and Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 3 centers per $1,000.
• Yes................................645     No................................259
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Article 3: Shall the town of Epsom raise and appropriate the sum of $57,054 to pay six months' salary and benefits, and the cost of uniforms and equipment, for one additional full-time police officer and one additional full-time firefighter/paramedic? $4,500 would come from the Police Department part-time line of the approved operating budget and $52,554 would be raised through taxes. If this article passes, it would become part of the future operating default budgets. Majority vote required; the appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen, not recommended by the Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 12 cents per $1,000.
Yes................................334     • No................................576
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Article 4: Shall the town of Epsom raise and appropriate $82,815 for a one-time pay adjustment to the annual salary for all full-time fire and police personnel totaling $72,000 plus $10,815 for Social Security, Medicare and retirement? If this article passes, it would become part of future operating default budgets. The increase would be as follows: Police chief and two supervisors would receive $8,000 each and eight full-time employees would receive $6,000 each. Majority vote required; this appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen, not recommended by the Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 18 cents per $1,000.
Yes................................367     • No................................539
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Article 5: Shall the town of Epsom vote to establish a capital reserve fund, per RSA 35:1 and 3, for the purpose of constructing, purchasing or renovating Town Offices and raise and appropriate the sum of $75,000 to be placed in this fund, and appoint the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend this fund? Majority vote required; this is a special warrant article and its appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen and the Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 16 cents per $1,000.
Yes................................288     • No................................617
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Article 6: Shall the town of Epsom raise and appropriate the sum of $150,000 to be added to the capital reserve fund previously established for the purpose of reconstruction and improvements to town roads? Majority vote required; this is a special warrant article and it appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen and the Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 33 cents per $1,000.
• Yes................................565     No................................352
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Article 7: Shall the town of Epsom raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000 to be added to the capital reserve fund previously established for the purpose of bridge replacement and repair? Majority vote required; this is a special warrant article and its appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen and Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 3 cents per $1,000.
• Yes................................604     No................................307
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Article 8: Shall the town of Epsom raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000 to be added to the capital reserve fund previously established for the purpose of acquiring motorized vehicles and equipment for the Highway Department? Majority vote required; this is a special warrant article and its appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen and Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 3 cents per $1,000.
Yes................................431    • No................................476
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Article 9: Shall the town of Epsom raise and appropriate the sum of $71,000 to construct a portable or permanent salt and sand shed by raising the sum of $39,000 from general taxation? The sum of $32,000 would be withdrawn from a previously established capital reserve fund for that purpose. Majority vote required; this is a special warrant article and its appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen and the Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 9 cents per $1,000.
Yes................................248     • No................................661
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Article 10: In the event that Article 9 does not pass, shall the town of Epsom raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 to be added to the capital reserve fund previously established for the purpose of erecting a salt and sand storage shed for the Highway Department? Majority vote required; this is a special warrant article and its appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen and the Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 2 cents per $1,000.
• Yes................................547     No................................361
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Article 11: Shall the town of Epsom raise and appropriate the sum of $63,000 to prepare and pave the section of New Orchard Road from house number 584 to the Pittsfield town line that was reclaimed in 2006? Majority vote required; this is a special warrant article and its appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen and the Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 14 cents per $1,000.
Yes................................346    • No................................562
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Article 12: Shall the town of Epsom vote to authorize the selectmen to enter into a long-term lease/purchase agreement in the amount of $70,398 payable over a term of four years at a rate of $17,600 per year, to purchase a backhoe-loader for the Highway Department, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $17,600 for the first year's payment, and authorize the withdrawal of $17,600 from the Capital Reserve Fund for Highway Vehicles and Equipment for that purpose? The lease does not contain an escape clause. If this article passes, the Highway Department rentals and leases line of the voted operating budget would be reduced by $17,600. 3/5 ballot vote required; this is a special warrant article. Recommended by the selectmen; not recommended by the Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase $0 per $1,000.
Yes................................361     • No................................540
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Article 13: Shall the town of Epsom establish a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of purchasing land for a Highway Department facility, and raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000 to be placed in this fund, and appoint the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend this fund? Majority vote required; this is a special warrant article and its appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen and the Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 11 cents per $1,000.
Yes................................274     • No................................631
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Article 14: Shall the town of Epsom raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 for the Planning Board to hire a planner to review applications to the Planning Board prior to consideration by the board? Majority vote required; this is a special warrant article and its appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen and the Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 2 cents per $1,000.
Yes................................232     • No................................674
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Article 15: Shall the town of Epsom raise and appropriate the sum of $18,000 to purchase and install equipment to record and transmit meetings held at the Town Offices? This will be a nonlapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will not lapse until the equipment is installed or by Dec. 31, 2011, whichever is sooner. Majority vote required; this is a special warrant article and its appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen and the Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 4 cents per $1,000.
Yes................................206     • No................................700
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Article 16: Shall the town of Epsom raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500 for the installation of an electric meter and the purchase of materials for the beautification and maintenance of the Epsom Traffic Circle? Majority vote required; this is a special warrant article and its appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen; not recommended by the Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 0.3 cent per $1,000.
Yes................................260     • No................................652
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Article 17: Shall the town of Epsom raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000 to hire a webmaster to maintain the town's web site? Majority vote required; this appropriation is in addition to the operating budget. Recommended by the selectmen and the Budget Committee. Estimated tax increase 0.2 cent per $1,000.
Yes................................351     • No................................547
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Article 18: Shall the town of Epsom vote to require that the numeric tally of votes by the Budget Committee and the Board of Selectmen relative to recommending the operating budget and special warrant articles be printed on the warrant? RSA 32:5, V-a. Majority vote required.
• Yes................................555     No................................316
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Article 19: To see if the town will vote to approve the following resolution to be forwarded to our state representatives, our state senator and our governor: Resolved: We, the citizens of Epsom, N.H., believe in a New Hampshire that is just and fair. The property tax has become unjust and unfair. We call on our state representatives, our state senator and our governor to have an open discussion covering all options, and adopt a revenue system that lowers property taxes.
• Yes................................659     No................................230
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Article 20: No invoice to the town of Epsom shall be privately made by a selectperson. By petition.
• Yes................................684     No................................181
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Article 21: All contracts for work needing to be done for the town of Epsom by an independent contractor will be cost-estimated for budget purposes. If the budget estimate is for $2,000 or more, then the job will be put out to bid by obtaining sealed bids from a minimum of two bidders. As to which bid is selected, the Board of Selectmen will open the bids and make their decision in a public meeting.
• Yes................................723     No................................171

Epsom Zoning Warrants
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

Article 1: Are in you favor of adopting an amendment to the Floodplain Ordinanc to comply with Naional Flood Insurance Program requirements? (Recommended by the Planniing Board)
• Yes................................665     No................................228
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Article 2: Are you in favor of adopting an amendment to the Zoning Ordinances which would require a driveway to be located outside the minimum required setbacks from side and rear property lines, except the property line at which the property meets the road unless it is a shared driveway? (Recommended by the Planning Board)
Yes................................367     • No................................500
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Article 3: Are you in favor of adopting an amendment to the Zoning Ordinances to require junkyards to comply with the most current New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services' Best Management Practices for Salvage Yards? (Recommended by the Planning Board)
• Yes................................755     No................................138
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Article 4: Are you in favor of adopting an amendment to the Zoning Ordinances to permit intermally lit on-premise signs in the Commercial Zone, to provide that signs shall be measured by the face of the sign, and to limit signposts and/or decorative displays to one foot on either side of the sign and not more than three feet on the top?(Recommended by the Planning Board)
• Yes................................533     No................................343
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Article 5: Are you in favor of adopting an amendment to the Zoning Ordinances to prohibit building on Class 6 roads? (Recommended by the Planning Board)
Yes................................419     • No................................430

Candia News : Epsom

Towns seeing spikes as tax rates are set

Epsom election results