New Waterfront Tax proposed HB 629-FN

[Descant]

The hearing just concluded about 2:30. If I heard the numbers correctly 27 people wrote in opposition and 4 in favor. Most of the public testimony came from those with an intertest in conservation land, the Timbertland Association, Forest Society, etc. To them, the bill is not clear about whether conservation land will be taxed and the cost may be prohibitive relative to the income from conservation land, if any. The NH Realtors Association was more definitive in opposition, noting the numbers of people with camps that are already burdened with high taxes. As a state tax, it is unclear if there is an abatement process as there is with a town property tax. It was noted that taxing only shorefront landowners when so many others benefit from impounded waters who do not own waterfront land, mostly recreational users. It was pointed out that dam maintenance in recent years has been funded through the capital budget (bonds). Nobody from what I would call the general public testified.

The Resources committee will vote on the bill next week, so not a lot of time to draft amendments. If passed, it will go to a second committee, (Ways and Means or Finance).