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ghfromaltonbay · 03-19-2007, 10:10 AM

Here is a copy of Charles Osgood's report. I heard it too last Monday on his daily CBS report. (They run repeats on the weekend of the most popular segments.)

NEW HAMPSHIRE'S VIEW TAX

The state of New Hampshire, whose motto is Live Free or Die, has no state income tax or sales tax. But there is a property tax and John Chandler's has been going up sharply because of the beautiful view from his place.

"I don't own that view."

His property hasn't changed but the property tax has. It's jumped ten fold in the last 5 years.

"I own the house, I won the yard but I don't own the view." said Chandler.

There's something of a view tax revolt going on there. The story after this for Welch's.

David Bischoff has a hunting cabin with an outhouse and 40 acres with a view.

"A 200 thousand dollar view." said David Bischoff.

Tax assessors wanted to show people how their property was being appraised so on the forms they included a separate line for view value.

“What’s a view?" said Tom Thompson.

Tree Farmer Tom Thompson is leading the revolt.

"Tell me what the definition of a view that assessors in the state of New Hampshire use." said Thompson.

The company that assesses most of the property in New Hampshire is Avatar. CEO Gary Rober says people have always been willing to pay more for shorefront property. The Granite state only has 13 miles of seacoast.

"I'd say three levels of mountains probably worth more than the ocean." said Gary Rober, CEO Avatar.

That's a little subjective. Wouldn't you say?

"It is subjective but what part of buying or selling isn't subjective. It's human nature." said Rober.

Phil Blastos the Commissioner of New Hampshire's Department of Revenue denies there's any such thing as a view tax.

"There is no separate view tax, the view is rolled into the value of the property because it's what people are paying for the property." said Phil Blastos, NH Department of Revenue Administration.

Tom Thompson doesn't buy that for a minute.

"It's a gimmick that assessors have come up with to come through the back door and stick their hands deeper in your pockets and extract more tax dollars for the municipalities, that's what it is folks." said Thompson.

03-19-2007, 10:10 AM	#7
ghfromaltonbay Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clifton, NJ, Alton Bay Posts: 831 Thanks: 255 Thanked 225 Times in 131 Posts	Transcript of Charles Osgood's report Here is a copy of Charles Osgood's report. I heard it too last Monday on his daily CBS report. (They run repeats on the weekend of the most popular segments.) NEW HAMPSHIRE'S VIEW TAX The state of New Hampshire, whose motto is Live Free or Die, has no state income tax or sales tax. But there is a property tax and John Chandler's has been going up sharply because of the beautiful view from his place. "I don't own that view." His property hasn't changed but the property tax has. It's jumped ten fold in the last 5 years. "I own the house, I won the yard but I don't own the view." said Chandler. There's something of a view tax revolt going on there. The story after this for Welch's. David Bischoff has a hunting cabin with an outhouse and 40 acres with a view. "A 200 thousand dollar view." said David Bischoff. Tax assessors wanted to show people how their property was being appraised so on the forms they included a separate line for view value. “What’s a view?" said Tom Thompson. Tree Farmer Tom Thompson is leading the revolt. "Tell me what the definition of a view that assessors in the state of New Hampshire use." said Thompson. The company that assesses most of the property in New Hampshire is Avatar. CEO Gary Rober says people have always been willing to pay more for shorefront property. The Granite state only has 13 miles of seacoast. "I'd say three levels of mountains probably worth more than the ocean." said Gary Rober, CEO Avatar. That's a little subjective. Wouldn't you say? "It is subjective but what part of buying or selling isn't subjective. It's human nature." said Rober. Phil Blastos the Commissioner of New Hampshire's Department of Revenue denies there's any such thing as a view tax. "There is no separate view tax, the view is rolled into the value of the property because it's what people are paying for the property." said Phil Blastos, NH Department of Revenue Administration. Tom Thompson doesn't buy that for a minute. "It's a gimmick that assessors have come up with to come through the back door and stick their hands deeper in your pockets and extract more tax dollars for the municipalities, that's what it is folks." said Thompson.