I'm not usually one to get in the way of a good rant and I don't have any love for government spending but...
-If the overall value of property in town goes up 14%, the town tax rate will not stay the same unless costs go up 14%. The town can't "get wealthy" by charging property owners 14% more than the town's budgeted spend. They can spend money at a higher clip because all that waterfront property gives them a nice tax base but they can't tax more and spend the same. I have a home in Moultonborough and they love to talk about the low tax rate but don't seem to mention the $1 billion + property valuation.
-Note the bolded words above. Waterfront property valuation will increase at a faster rate than non-waterfront property so those taxes are going to increase at a faster pace. If total spending goes up 4% in the same year that property was assessed, chances are your tax bill is going to go up more than 4%.
-While certain NH employees get a pension (teachers, fire, police and some municipal employees but not sure which), they have to contribute 5% or 6% of their pay to it and then the employer also kicks in a percentage. It's a weird hybrid of defined benefit and defined contribution.
-Lastly, I'm in the same situation. I inherited a house that is many multiples more valuable than when my parents built it in the 60's. Yes, the yearly taxes are more than they paid for the property but this is the very definition of a first world problem. At the end of the day I have a very valuable asset that I can choose to pay to keep or I can sell it and cash in. People may not feel like it because they are living in the asset and can't use it to pay the bill, but their net worth calculation says they are well off.
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