LACONIA Tax Increases

[trackeer]

Originally Posted by Biggd

I've been kind of a gear head all my life, into fast cars, motor cycles, and power boats. I have a boat, a jet ski, an old Corvette and I find more pleasure now in a peaceful cruise in my Kayak or a hike up a mountain, go figure.
A true funny story I'd like to share, when I was in my 30's at a family wedding I overheard a couple of old guys, not much older than me now, talking about sex. One guy tells then other, "I get more pleasure hanging a door". Thankfully I'm not there yet, LOL!

LOL,

Not there yet either, but I'm sure at some point it quits working like other things.
I hear ya, I've pretty much been a motorhead myself, we bought a second waverunner this year and for the most part that's how we boat now. We have a 28 footer that doesn't fit into the cove and sits stored, another victim of minimizing coming.
Pretty bad when we look back at stories and refer to old folks back in the day the age we are now, yeeeek

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by trackeer

LOL,

Not there yet either, but I'm sure at some point it quits working like other things.
I hear ya, I've pretty much been a motorhead myself, we bought a second waverunner this year and for the most part that's how we boat now. We have a 28 footer that doesn't fit into the cove and sits stored, another victim of minimizing coming.
Pretty bad when we look back at stories and refer to old folks back in the day the age we are now, yeeeek

We are our parents now.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by Biggd

We are our parents now.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

You can also ask the question : "When the heck did we become the older generation? "

And the answer is "Beats me! It just kinda snuck up on me. "

Dave

Sent from my SM-T580 using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[Rattler]

I have had several exchanges with the Laconia assessor's office since we saw that our land value assessment was increased approximately 23.5%. In typical city of Laconia fashion, this increase was done without warning or explanation from the assessor's office. While it showed up in the Vision database during the summer, the first official notice was seeing it on the December tax bill.

The frustrating part was that individuals in the assessor's office, given multiple attempts, could not explain to me in simple terms how they arrived at the increase. They tried to pull a snow job on me by producing "comps" that weren't really comps and tons of meaningless numbers and ratios. However, they could never walk me through the specific calculations that led to the 23.5% number. I finally gave up, which is what they wanted to happen in the first place.

My feeling is that the city of Laconia views the assessor's office as one big ATM that they can turn to in order to get immediate cash to fund their mismanagement of the city. This is because the assessor's office can play games with "market-based" assessments to make up whatever shortfall the city encounters in its bloated budget. This game playing helps the city increase property tax revenues without the need to significantly hike (and draw unwanted attention to) its outrageous property tax rate.

Belt-tightening and budget cutting are not concepts that the city of Laconia is familiar with or uses to manage city finances. Unfortunately, "spend more and tax more" appears to be their guiding management philosophy.

[Little Bear]

Originally Posted by Rattler

I have had several exchanges with the Laconia assessor's office since we saw that our land value assessment was increased approximately 23.5%. In typical city of Laconia fashion, this increase was done without warning or explanation from the assessor's office. While it showed up in the Vision database during the summer, the first official notice was seeing it on the December tax bill.

The frustrating part was that individuals in the assessor's office, given multiple attempts, could not explain to me in simple terms how they arrived at the increase. They tried to pull a snow job on me by producing "comps" that weren't really comps and tons of meaningless numbers and ratios. However, they could never walk me through the specific calculations that led to the 23.5% number. I finally gave up, which is what they wanted to happen in the first place.

My feeling is that the city of Laconia views the assessor's office as one big ATM that they can turn to in order to get immediate cash to fund their mismanagement of the city. This is because the assessor's office can play games with "market-based" assessments to make up whatever shortfall the city encounters in its bloated budget. This game playing helps the city increase property tax revenues without the need to significantly hike (and draw unwanted attention to) its outrageous property tax rate.

Belt-tightening and budget cutting are not concepts that the city of Laconia is familiar with or uses to manage city finances. Unfortunately, "spend more and tax more" appears to be their guiding management philosophy.

I used Atty. Phil Brouillard from Laconia to file an abatement. He worked on contingency - his fee was 50% of the first year's tax savings that he was able to secure for the client. No risk to the client whatsoever. His number is 603-524-4450. No reason to let City of Laconia get away with this. Good luck.

[Descant]

Excerpted

Originally Posted by Rattler

My feeling is that the city of Laconia views the assessor's office as one big ATM that they can turn to in order to get immediate cash to fund their mismanagement of the city. This is because the assessor's office can play games with "market-based" assessments to make up whatever shortfall the city encounters in its bloated budget. This game playing helps the city increase property tax revenues without the need to significantly hike (and draw unwanted attention to) its outrageous property tax rate.

Belt-tightening and budget cutting are not concepts that the city of Laconia is familiar with or uses to manage city finances. Unfortunately, "spend more and tax more" appears to be their guiding management philosophy.

You can also appeal to the NH Board of Tax and Land Appeals. If, as you suggest, Laconia (Vision) is just making up numbers to avoid raising taxes directly, the BTLA can rectify such actions. Basically, Laconia, or any other town, can't just make things up without somebody from the state looking over their shoulder. The purpose of BTLA is to make things simple and accessible to the public without going to Superior Court. https://www.nh.gov/btla