Story Archives of 'Property Taxes'

Group Aims to Cap Property Taxes in 11 Communities

By David Darman on Wednesday, May 14, 2008.

A group calling itself the “New Hampshire Advantage Coalition” is petitioning 11 communities to cap local property tax rates.

Coalition officials say caps are needed to control fast escalating local taxes.

But critics say the caps can unduly constrict spending, to the point that they do more harm than good.

New Hampshire Public Radio’s David Darman has more.

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Municipal Tax Caps

By Laura Knoy on Friday, May 9, 2008.

Voters in half a dozen New Hampshire cities may see a question on their November ballots asking whether they want to put a permanent lid on tax increases. Supporters say it’s the best way to keep municipal budgets lean and mean, but opponents worry these caps will derail vital community investments.

Guests

We'll also hear from

  • Fred Keach, city councilor in Concord, where a tax cap has been proposed
  • Brian Chirichiello, town councilor in Derry, which has a municipal tax cap
  • Tony Giunta, former mayor of Franklin, which has a municipal tax cap
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The Interactive Town Meeting Map

By Jon Greenberg on Monday, March 3, 2008.

Next week, residents in most New Hampshire towns will take part in town meeting season. They will vote on budgets and items as specific as a new contract for back hoe services. All told, their decisions will affect some four and half billion dollars worth of spending statewide.

In a joint effort with New Hampshire’s Local Government Center, NHPR invited every town to submit just a few highlights of items on the warrant and we put that information into an interactive map on our web site. Executive Editor Jon Greenberg has been looking at what’s come in so far and joins us now.

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Tax Exemptions

By Laura Knoy on Wednesday, August 23, 2006.

Concord voted to keep it's property tax exemption for the blind this month, making it the largest exemption of any New Hampshire community. The vote highlighted the debate over tax exemptions. One side feels that these tax breaks shift the burden on to other residents while the other side feels this is the best way to ease the financial burden on elderly and blind taxpayers. We'll look at New Hampshire's tax exemptions, who has them, who doesn't...and what the impact on the bottom line is. Laura's guests are Maura Carroll, General Counsel for the NH Municipal Association and Steve Norton, Executive Director of the NH Center for Public Policy Studies. The center released a report in 2005 on these tax exemptions, entitled Shifting the Load (PDF).

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Suit Claims Tax Assesments Violate the Constitution

By David Darman on Wednesday, August 25, 2004.

Four New Hampshire homeowners today filed suit against the state in federal court.

The suit claims a state law requiring indoor inspections for property tax assessments violates the 4th amendment of the U.S. constitution.

New Hampshire Public Radio's David Darman has more.

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A View With a Tax

By Doug MacPherson on Monday, May 31, 2004.

New Hampshire residents have long prided themselves on living in one of the prettiest states in the country. Before the state's license plates carried the slogan, "Live Free Or Die," they were stamped with the word, "Scenic." But even scenery comes at a price. In a state where property taxes fund so much of state and local government, determining just how much a good view adds to the value of a private home is becoming increasing important. In some towns, they call it a "view tax." New Hampshire Public Radio's Doug MacPherson reports.

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Derry Debates Development

By Carolyn D'Aquila on Monday, February 18, 2002.

Derry Residents are discovering there are more benefits to preserving open space than just rural charm.
Education accounts for 80% of the town's budget, and population growth shows no sign of slowing. Leaving some land undeveloped provides one way to at least stabilize taxes. And Derry is not alone. As NHPR Correspondent Carolyn D'Aquila reports, many communities around the state are catching on.

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Rye Considers Its Options

By Roger Wood on Tuesday, August 14, 2001.

STATE LAWMAKERS MAY BELIEVE THEY HAVE SOLVED….AT LEAST FOR NOW…. THE EDUCATION FUNDING ISSUE…
BUT COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE DISAGREE.
RESIDENTS OF RYE ARE TALKING ABOUT SECCESSION, AND SUNAPEE SELECTMEN WANT TO MOVE THEIR TOWN OUT OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
FIRST….. CORRESPONDENT ROGER WOOD REPORTS THAT OPPONENTS OF THE STATE’S PROPERTY TAX IN RYE ARE OPENING UP TWO FRONTS…..STATEWIDE AND LOCAL.

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A New Standard for Non-Profit Tax Exemptions?

By Josh Rogers on Wednesday, August 8, 2001.

A recent State Supreme court ruling could radically alter the financial landscape for state non-profit, religious and charitable groups. So say lawyers on both sides of a longstanding tax battle over some church owned property in Swanzey. NHPR's Josh Rogers has more.

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In Property Tax Crisis, Statewide Assessments

By David Darman on Monday, February 12, 2001.

Two states perform statewide property assessments in conjunction with property taxes.

New Hampshire could be the third state to join them, thanks to a recent court order.

New Hampshire Public Radio's David Darman has more.

listen: No audio currently available. Order on CD (pdf).
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