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Old 09-08-2011, 03:23 PM   #79
JMR
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Default legal background?

I am told that years ago thee was a discussion of a number of the islands coming together to form a town. As you might guess, the issue is (always?) too high taxation for the little benefit that islands actually get from towns. The offset is the costs of police, fire and some admiistration in the new town. And I suspect, the attitude of the town that you are trying to leave. Since, most towns do not want to lose taxable real estate.

The NH legislature has the power to create towns and change the boundaries of towns. It comes from the concept that towns and counties are the creation of the state legislature. Thus the state can change them at any time.

For example, Sugar Hill was once a portion of another town (Littleton?), but the legislature carved it out to stand on its own. It was challenged and the NH Supreme Court upheld the creation of sugar Hill by the legislature. As you might guess, it was years of litigation between the two before and after the legislature acted.

I have heard, but not checked, that Governors Island left laconia for Guilford back in the day.

A cynical view would be that money speaks when it comes to these decisions to change towns, etc.

For what it is worth..........
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