New Hampshire has 240 towns, and 57 of them have voted to switch from town meeting voting to SB-2 ballot voting. SB-2, which is an abbreviation for Senate Bill 2 was passed by the New Hampshire legislature in 1996.
SB-2 is not applicable to cities. Cities, like Laconia, Concord, or Dover can vote in a tax cap, if they choose.
Meredith voters will be voting in March, via a 7am to 7pm, private paper ballot, voting booth vote at the Community Center, for or against SB-2 Meredith town, and SB-2 Meredith school. It is two seperate votes. The SB-2 school vote includes the School Administrative Unit #2, member towns of Sandwich, Center Harbor, and Meredith. Sandwich and Center Harbor will be voting in their own voting locations for their School Administrative Unit, SB-2 decision.
A super majority of 60% is needed for SB-2 to get passed.
Here in the lakes region, the Gilford voters gave SB-2 the big green, 60% light in 2004.
Can it happen right here in Meredith, NH? ...stay tuned...as the stock market tanks....and home values plunge...and yet their assessments increase...and property taxes continue to climb...what-o-what will the Meredith voters do to get SB-2 through?
Will it be SITUATION DESPERATE?
Last March, in the first vote Meredith ever had for SB-2, the vote was about 57.5% for SB-2 which was not enough to get it passed. The school vote was about 48% for SB-2, as I recall.
The second Tuesday of March is a long ways off, like four months, and on the other side of the big, bad, long, New Hampsha wintah
! Happy sledding & skiing to all between now and then.
!