If the cities and towns are running out of money, and residents are getting forced out of their homes by increased property taxes, then maybe the state legislature should consider the local option of a 2 1/2% sales tax similar to Wasilla, Alaska.
Both New Hampshire and Alaska have no state income-no state sales tax, but, and this is a big 'but,' the State of Alaska allows for individual cities and towns to establish and collect a local sales tax. Wasilla has stores like Home depot and Wal-Mart, and Wasilla gets a 2 1/2% tax with a limit of $12.50/ customer store visit, so the tax does not impact large purchases like Ford cars & trucks, or Harley Davidsons.
How could the Town of Meredith use a 2 1/2% tax as applied to the new Hannaford store to reduce the property tax burden, and help pay for its new
www.piercemfg.com $725,000 aerial tower, fire truck, which will be the state's most expensve fire truck.
NH already has a state-wide 10% car rental tax, an 8% restaurant food & lodging tax, and a 1 1/2% real estate transfer tax which is the highest in the U.S.