Letter: NH’s expensive giveaway

Published: 01-09-2025 4:31 PM

I may not know all my neighbors by name or sight, but through Next Door online forums I know we are in shock over recent property tax bills. What’s the driver? In Weare, not the town’s share of taxes. For years, Weare has limped along on default budgets. But, as in many towns that saw up to a 16% jump, taxes are driven by school costs, and school costs are driven by state policy. Less comes from the state as vouchers are given to families that may or may not apply the money to “adequate” education. State aid decreases with every child withdrawn from public school. But the cost of operating and staffing a building remains for local taxpayers.

I support education as the cornerstone of free, productive and innovative society. I do not support a voucher system engineered to shift costs to localities while supporting non-public education that may or may not meet accreditation standards. NH’s Department of Education has a gun at the heads of large landholders, retirees and anyone with medical or other debt, forcing property tax payments to come first or our right to a residence is taken away for non-payment. This is regressive and dangerous. Taxpayers could be choked out of supporting even necessary, basic municipal services. Children could grow up without knowing how good citizenship grows out of belonging to a local community. Please sign petitions to limit vouchers. Attend local school and town meetings, and vote to end the giveaway.

Christine Hague

Weare

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