Many New Hampshire lawmakers felt relieved today/ (yesterday) that the State Supreme Court upheld the statewide property tax. But others were disappointed in the decision, since it allows the tax to stay in place without major changes. N H P R?s David Darman has more.
Governor Jeanne Shaheen had nothing but good things to say about the ruling. The governor saw it as another step toward solving the problem of raising enough money to pay for education.
03 ?I think its good news for the state in terms of hopefully getting a solution to school funding long term. Obviously, they pointed out that we still have work to do to make sure we have the statewide property tax and the property tax system as fair and equitable as possible and we will continue to work on that. 03 27
Republicans in the New Hampshire House were also upbeat about the ruling. Many members of the G-O-P had been critical of the court and its two Claremont decisions during the impeachment of Chief Justice David Brock last year. After his review of the newest ruling, Speaker Gene Chandler said he was satisfied the court had recognized the boundaries between the separate branches of government.
02 it appears in the decision process at least once and maybe one other place that the court has really reaffirmed the legislative perogative to deal with education funding and I think that?s important also. 02 13
House Democratic leaders were not as concerned with the role of the court as with the effect its latest decision would have on efforts to reform the state?s tax structure. Democratic leader Peter Burling said with the property tax still in the mix, the pressure to come up with a fair and durable education funding plan has become greater than ever.
09 for those of us who have to find a solution, we now have to make a decision whether we?re going to use the property tax as a foundation, ?at a level which actually brings tax relief to our cities and towns, or we can do what republican leadership is doing, and set it at 5.95, which raises everybody?s tax burden and reduces the obligation to find independent revenues... 9 42
Leaders of the state senate say they?re also eager to find a way to fully fund the state?s schools, and the state budget, which is now under Senate review. But Senate President Arthur Klemm says he?s grateful the court ruled as it did, since the state escaped what could have been a financial catastrophe.
11 well, obviously, you know, anytime you don?t have to find 880 million dollars, that helps us a lot. 11 07 so, it does help us as we go forward trying to craft a final solution. 11 17
Thanks to the court?s decision, state lawmakers need to find a way to close a shortfall of 225 million dollars, give or take a few million.
For N H P R News, I?m DD
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