The legislature is scheduled to vote tomorrow today on the latest school aid distribution formula. People on all sides of the matter predict the vote will be close.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Josh Rogers has more.
Tensions tend to run high on the eve of any school funding vote......But as tomorrows vote approaches……the fallout of the education aid compromise reached last week by legislative leaders continues to grow more rancorous……
"This is a failure of leadership of the highest order."
That's Manchester Mayor Bob Baines speaking at a statehouse rally against the proposal that would send his 41 million dollars next year -- that's 6 million dollars less than Manchester expected to get under current state law.……Baines says his city has no choice but to pass on the shortfall to local taxpayers……Baines promised to do his best to ensure queen city voters know who is to blame.
"The property tax increase in Manchester will be the Craig Benson property tax increase…….It'll be the Gene Chandler property tax increase……It'll be the Tom Eaton property tax increase."
But anger over the plan isn't confined to towns who feel they deserve more…..or confined to democrats……Many republicans -- particularly those from the plans 51 donor towns -- like Dan Hughes of New Castle…… say taxpayers have been betrayed. New Castle faces a 1.5 million dollar tax increase…..Hughes insists it doesn't have to be that way, and would not have been had the process been more open.
"There is plenty of time to handle this issue properly…..The speaker and the senate president would discharge the committee of conference….maybe we just send them, into the room with the door's hinges off so anyone would go in."
If critics see the situation as one where the school funding glass is at best half-empty……..Republican leaders take a rosier view……Deputy house speaker Mike Whalley, who represents a donor community…………defends the plan as reasonable, and insists the way in which it was brokered was entirely above board.
"I don't hear anyone saying they've been burned….In fact I think the process is significantly more pure than it might have been years ago before I was a legislator…..when committees of conference could adopt non-germane amendments and could adopt language and ideas that had nothing to do with the subject."
The plans champions are also quick to point out that regardless of what towns might have expected….. enacting it would mark progress.……To this end, they stress that the other plans under consideration may have run afoul of the constitution… They also note that the plan will reduce the state property tax rate $4.92 to $3.33 per 1000 dollars valuation…….In a briefing for house members……House finance chairman Neal Kurk warned that now is not the time to push for plans that rely on new revenue……when it's clear that neither the state senate nor the governor would accept.
"What do you compare things with? At some point you have to compare things to what is possible and what is…..and some of the rest is just unachievable."
The Benson administration, meanwhile, is lobbying for the for the plan's passage……Even so, the administration could not confirm if the governor would sign the measure should it pass. Lawmakers will take up the proposal tomorrow morning…..
