property tax oblivion

[tis]

You are so right, Skip. The only person who doesn't hate taxes is someone who doesn't pay much. They are ok with them until THEY have to pay them.

[nj2nh]

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!!!!

[Argie's Wife]

I don't believe that a state income tax is the answer and agree with the points that all of the previous posters mentioned. Additionally, you have to create another department that will collect, monitor, report and manage it all. We don't need more red-tape or more taxes.

I'd rather see meal taxes go up or taxes on alcohol - things you don't have to have to survive but that are more "luxury" items.

However, something is going to have to happen because there's serious problems with the NH State Retirement system - they're not properly funded and those who are paying into the system are getting worried if they're going to have anything to retire on... it shouldn't be like that. Something has to happen....

[ghfromaltonbay]

Originally Posted by nj2nh

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.

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!!!!

Sounds like a good plan, nj2nh. I'll be right behind you heading north. Don't fall for the line that an income tax will ease property taxes. As I've stated in earlier threads, NJ has the highest property taxes in the US, plus a now 7% sales tax (started at 3%), plus a graduated income tax -- yes even on retirees' income (PA doesn't tax retirement income). We also have casinos in Atlantic City which was supposed to alleviate the need for higher property taxes as the proceeds from gambling and the state lottery were supposed to help education. Yeah right! My property taxes have risen 8-9% each of the past 5 years. I'm now paying $6500 for a 47x100 lot with a small 3 bedroom cape. Someone I know with a 5 bedroom lakefront home in Alton Bay with boathouse and a heck of a bigger lot paid less than $7000 in taxes last year and didn't have income or sales tax to worry about. So, who's getting taken to the cleaners? All higher taxes equate to is higher spending.