Laconia Prison and the State Budget

[Ropetow]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

It's time to seriously start talking about a NH state income tax!

Yawn.....The citizens of NH have spoken on this one many times. Is it a coincidence that Lynch has taken 'the pledge' and keeps getting re-elected?

[Argie's Wife]

Please no more taxes - you can't get blood from a turnip.

And no casinos. If you think you pay a lot in taxes now to cover the budgets of your local law enforcement, just wait...

Back to the subject of the buildings & property...

Wasn't that prison originally a state school? And wasn't the state school a working farm?

My parents managed a town's "poor farm" in Maine and we lived at the facility from the time I was 2 years old until I was 14. My father had a goal of making the facility self-sufficient by farming the land that the facility was on and using the produce to feed the patients (there were about 26-30 patients, and about 10+ staff members.) There was also livestock there but the focus was more on farming. Extra produce was sold to the local grocery stores, at a roadside stand and other venues. The revenue was returned to the town. His plan worked well and the facility became a revenue maker - not a bottomless pit.

Rather than another resort in the area, we need more working farms. The farm land could be used for recreational things (i.e. snowshoeing, cross country skiing, etc.) in the winter - but that's excellent land and should be made of good use. You can't tell me that some sort of corrections facility/agricultural center couldn't be placed there?

[no-engine]

Lynch was interviewed on TV. I read "between the lines" that his hint was the liquor stores at rest areas are not good profit centers. Makes sense: move them to malls where food stores are. OFF the highways. At rest areas, the state could rent the space to food concessions & sit-down areas, revamp the buildings with "information", making them more than a path to the restrooms. I never understood why a liquor store on an interstate northbound is a part of "welcome to New Hampshire"! Did Prez Eisnehower have this in mind when his administration designed the interstate highway system?

Lynch's actions were so unnecessary when EZ Pass was about to be implemented. Too long to write. If he makes changes to pass-holder costs, I'll go back to an account in another state; I will gain a no-charge transponder, and my only loss will be the discount at NH tolls. I reside in NH and used to have a NY account. My brother lives in MA and has had an account yet another state!

[kjbathe]

Originally Posted by no-engine

If he makes changes to pass-holder costs, I'll go back to an account in another state; I will gain a no-charge transponder, and my only loss will be the discount at NH tolls.

There may not be a NH discount to lose. I had a free account out of Maryland for several years (no signup or monthly fees, free transponders, free billing by credit card, just pay toll costs) to take advantage of EZPass in Maine and Mass until the NH system was finally implemented.

If the NH discount is eliminated, it will be a no-brainer to switch back.

[no-engine]

Originally Posted by kjbathe

There may not be a NH discount to lose. I had a free account out of Maryland for several years (no signup or monthly fees, free transponders, free billing by credit card, just pay toll costs) to take advantage of EZPass in Maine and Mass until the NH system was finally implemented.

If the NH discount is eliminated, it will be a no-brainer to switch back.

HOORAY. YOU SAID IT IN DIFFERENT WORDS!

Thing is, those who paid for a NH transponder would loose that money, which is not refundable. I think I was early and paid NH $5.00. The language (contract) is that state owns the equipment! What did we pay for? They were /are free with most others.