Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - Help for high property taxes

Ms Merge · 12-06-2011, 10:18 AM

In SB2 towns (which Gilford is) a 0% tax cap will prevent the school board and the selectmen from proposing a budget that increases the amount raised from property taxes larger than the previous year. To vote in a tax cap it must pass by 3/5ths vote. In order to remove a tax cap it requires 3/5th vote. It is correct that at Deliberative Session the spenders can come in and increase various provisions of the budget. You are also correct that the people of Gilford that want to control spending need to get involved. This is at least a start. What is driving the spending? Mostly the increase in wages to the government workers. I have always been puzzeled why people think that the private sector should suffer from inflation, increased health care costs, increased fuel costs but the government workers should not. Essentially what has happened in Gilford is that the government workers get raises, 95% to 100% benefits paid for and a retirement that in most cases is far better than social security. The private sector worker takes the hit twice once for himself and then again when they have to foot the bill for the government worker through taxation. So the private sector gets hit TWICE. How is this fair?

12-06-2011, 10:18 AM	#7
Ms Merge Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 25 Thanks: 18 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	More on Tax Caps In SB2 towns (which Gilford is) a 0% tax cap will prevent the school board and the selectmen from proposing a budget that increases the amount raised from property taxes larger than the previous year. To vote in a tax cap it must pass by 3/5ths vote. In order to remove a tax cap it requires 3/5th vote. It is correct that at Deliberative Session the spenders can come in and increase various provisions of the budget. You are also correct that the people of Gilford that want to control spending need to get involved. This is at least a start. What is driving the spending? Mostly the increase in wages to the government workers. I have always been puzzeled why people think that the private sector should suffer from inflation, increased health care costs, increased fuel costs but the government workers should not. Essentially what has happened in Gilford is that the government workers get raises, 95% to 100% benefits paid for and a retirement that in most cases is far better than social security. The private sector worker takes the hit twice once for himself and then again when they have to foot the bill for the government worker through taxation. So the private sector gets hit TWICE. How is this fair?