I would love to live in NH. The property taxes there seem so much more manageable than here in beautiful NJ where we, too, fund our schools exclusively through property taxes. Taxes for my modest 4 bedroom home are around $13K! Plus, we have a 7% sales tax (just went up a while ago) and income tax. Geez! But, we all get by since we know that is the price to pay for living where we do.
Our town is about to put a referendum to the voters for capital improvements for our schools. Because of a new law which limits school budget increases to some ridiculously miniscule amount, capital improvements no longer "fit" in the regular school budgets - this includes roof repairs, heating controls - generally basic stuff. As a result, things have gotten pretty bad in the schools. Add to this the nearly 100% increase in the school population over the last six years (yup, only six years) and you have a mess. The referendum is for nearly $45 million (yes, million). We have 4 tiny elementary schools and a combined MS/HS.
And this is in a town where the kids walk to school because it is so small that no one lives more than two miles from the building. The whole town would fit into Alton probably five or six times not including the water!
So, things are a mess all over and I can't wait until 2014 when my youngest graduates from HS and we can establish residency in NH and send the boys to UNH!!!!
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