Less than two weeks after Election Day, where Republicans strengthened their control over state government here in New Hampshire, we have already seen a glimpse of what is to come over the next two years: higher property tax burdens on hardworking Granite Staters. And with the state budget debate still on the horizon, it’s critical that we hold NH Republicans accountable for their policies that increase costs on Granite Staters.
Less State Aid for Special Ed Costs = Higher Local Property Taxes
Last week, Republican NH Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut informed school districts across New Hampshire that the state would be providing significantly less state aid for special education costs in the coming year. And because of this cut in state aid, local school districts will be forced to ask local property taxpayers to make up the difference.
“This is just one more hit to local taxpayers where they are going to have to take on the burden themselves for something that is really the state’s responsibility,” said Sydney Leggett, superintendent for the Plainfield and Cornish School Districts.
And rather than consider the impact of this cut in state aid will have on property taxpayers, Edelblut doubled-down on policies that raise property taxes by claiming that “school vouchers…can be one answer.” The school voucher program is estimated to divert $27 million of public taxpayer money this year alone to private and religious schools, further increasing the property tax burden of hardworking Granite Staters.
Under GOP Control, Manchester Sees Largest Property Tax Increase in a Decade
Last year, Manchester elected a Republican mayor, Jay Ruais, largely on a promise of keeping taxes low. But, with the release of Manchester’s new property tax rate, we can see that his campaign promises were meaningless. At the end of last week, the property tax rate for the upcoming year was finalized and came in with a $3.82 increase over the prior year and is the largest property increase in 10 years (since GOP Mayor Ted Gatsas was in office).
This is the first budget under the new GOP leadership in Manchester with GOP Mayor Jay Ruais and GOP control of the Board of Aldermen. And according to GOP Alderman Joe Kelly Levassuer, the median homeowner in Manchester will pay an additional $400 per year because of this increase. This is yet another example of NHGOP politicians making promises in a campaign year and failing to deliver once they are in power.
More State Budgets Cuts on the Horizon
Last week, we also saw outgoing GOP Governor Sununu along with Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte open hearings on the next state budget where the instructions for state agencies was to cut 4% of their budgets. And while these instructions may indicate less spending, the actual impact is to shift the tax burden from the state to local property taxpayers.
For example, the NH Department of Education initially asked for about a 0.6% increase to their budget. If the state ends up cutting that figure by 4.6%, that cost largely gets passed onto local school districts and property taxpayers.
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Thank you,
Ryan Mahoney
Executive Director