Vote ‘no’ on N.H. property tax cap
New Hampshire voters will face two questions on the November ballot. Question 1 is a straightforward housekeeping measure to eliminate the obsolete, inactive position of Register of Probate, whose former duties are now handled by court clerks. I urge a “yes” vote on Question 1.
Question 2, however, is a confusing and poorly constructed attempt by the state legislature to impose local school budget caps. This “one-size-fits-all” measure ignores serious intended and unintended consequences. For example, there is no timely, viable formula for budgeting under this bill. Furthermore, cooperative multi-town districts are left with no mechanism to reconcile differing votes across town lines.
Budget caps restrict long-term planning and strip away a community’s ability to manage unpredictable, skyrocketing expenses like fuel, heating oil, and health insurance. This bill is a smoke-and-mirrors distraction from the reality that the state has yet to fulfill its court-mandated duty to adequately fund our public schools.
We must protect local control of our public schools. Our school budgets should be developed by our locally elected school boards, publicly debated, and decided by local voters who understand our community’s needs — not by state legislators in Concord.
Please protect our public schools and preserve your voice. Vote “no” on Question 2.