Our constitutional article 28-a essentially says the legislature can't mandate programs without paying for them. However, there is an exception for programs that existed before 28-a was enacted. And, if the going price for said service is $2.00, local districts often find ways to enhance the program once it is place and the cost goes to $4.00. Around 2000, there was a big push for kindergarten in public schools. First, half -day, then full day. There are some educational plusses here, but many voted for it because it relieved them of the cost of day care for their little ones. Totally ignored the fact that now they were paying for day care for the rest of their lives, not just while their kids were preschool age. The tendency over the last six decades, has been for schools to increase services and accreditation requirements. A few years ago our local high school "had to" build a track because we crossed an enrollment threshold and a track was required to remain accredited. Enrollment has gone down, but we will spend hundreds of thousands every few years to maintain/rebuild the track.
As long as Representatives and Senators campaign on a basis of "look what I got for you" instead of "look how I cut your taxes" we will be in an upward spending spiral.
There is a CACR (Constitutional Amendment Concurrent Resolution) pending this year. If it passes, a constitutional amendment will be added to prohibit income tax in NH. It will be interesting to see how that affects the BPT for independent lawyers, and accountants, or trades people who essentially pay an income tax on a private practice.
I could see property tax relief in the form of a reverse mortgage. Let the accumulated unpaid tax for certain elders build up and pay it with interest when you move out and sell the house.
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