$136.
That's how much more the county will be snatching from a Gilford family of four this year to fund it's ever-expanding budget.
No matter where one looks, there are events taking place, and choices that need to be made, all of which will have a profound impact on our lives—especially our wallets! Whether it’s budget votes on the ballot, candidates that will either be frugal with our monies or spend it like drunken sailors, and the question of adopting SB2 (surely a no-brainer), this is the time of year when the power is in our hands. In many instances, the choices are pretty clear between business as usual, or adopting a new degree of scrutiny and oversight. The beauty of our system funded through property taxation here in NH is that almost the entire cost and function is controlled right at the local level, and residents, should they choose to avail themselves, have a large amount of say in the final outcome. Except for when it comes to Belknap County, that is. For that, we are at the mercy of 18 people….
By now, most taxpayers in Belknap County should have heard about the looming impact posed by the need for more funds due to reductions in revenues from the state. The county portion of our property tax bills is estimated to rise some 13%. This isn’t chump change. In this prior post, Skip has calculated that this will cost an average Gilford family of four an additional $136 in new taxes, on top of an increase generated no matter what happens at the March 11 budget voting. Laconia, under the constraints of the tax cap, will have to shave some $250,000 from its budget to stay compliant. Proportionally, the story is the same in the rest of the towns in the county.
And here’s the rub—not a single taxpayer from any of the communities has any say in the county budget whatsoever—except for the 3 County Commissioners and the 18 members of the County Convention, comprised of the delegation of NH house representatives. It is their shoulders that we rely upon to keep expenditures under control in order to maintain tax stability. They are the eyes and ears of the taxpayers of the county. Based upon my recent observations, they have failed us miserably.
Instead of poring over the budget with a fine toothed comb, and pondering what exactly the role of county government is, they have seemingly rubber-stamped the thing, blaming all the increases and woes on the state of New Hampshire. All you have to do is open the budget and take a look, and you’ll quickly learn that while the state has some impact, the County Convention isn’t entirely truthful in passing the buck. Like your typical town or school budget, the devil is in the details, where much of the spending covers payroll. While our “representatives” in county matters claim that everything contained within is necessary spending that leaves no options, I beg to differ.
As one is likely to find is the case in nearly every modern governmental budget big and small, the underlying factor that gets tossed aside is the question of wants versus needs—or, to put it simply, deciding exactly what is the role of this particular piece of government. The question should be asked, “Is this budget item, and whatever its increase happens to be, absolutely necessary in achieving a defined and proper function?” My contention is that this hasn’t been done. And judging by the pace the county government has expanded and grown, I would say it has been many years since anybody gave the taxpaying residents of the county any consideration whatsoever.
For example, in most towns and school districts in the area, we have seen the percentage raises dished out decline from the highs we saw some three to four years ago. In general, we find 3 to 4 and a half percent pay raises the norm, with some municipalities and school districts asking employees to shoulder a larger portion of their ever-rising benefit costs. Not so with Belknap County. A quick sampling of key administrative and elected official raises shows that the taxpayers have been awfully generous in remunerating them for their services. The Chief Administrator/Finance Officer saw an increase of 6.52% in 2007 ($5340) and 7.01% ($6117) this year. The Citizens Council Executive Director got 6.53% ($4867) last year followed this time around with a raise of 7.01% ($5573). Not bad, eh? The Sheriff (an elected position that people actively seek out and campaign for) saw an increase of a whopping 9.07% ($5779) last year with a generous 6.94% ($4825) allotted presently. Get the picture? Just THREE employees cost the taxpayers over $32,000 in pay raises in just two years’ time! Do the math. How many employees does the county have?
My point is that these represent just three line items out of a budget that, with all of its pages, measures nearly an inch thick. I contend that the county has been on autopilot, and NOBODY has been minding the store. We seem to be funding every conceivable social service that can be thought up. I want to know who decided all of this was necessary, and why I am obligated to pay for it all?
Thanks to the actions of two lone activists here in Belknap County, there will be one last chance for the hapless taxpayers to have a say this coming Tuesday during a public hearing at the County Complex at 7 PM. Will anybody use this opportunity to tell our “representatives” to wake up and do their job? Or will we just complain and fall into the trap being set by those eagerly waiting to inflict broad-based taxes upon the Granite State?
Oh, and one last note-- don't let some loyal Republican try to tell you that this is all the fault of Gov. Lynch and the Democrats. No way! The county has been run by a single party- the GOP for years on end. They hold the majority-- and the power. And they choose to do nothing. Think about that-- supposed "good" conservatives like Rep. Fran Wendlebloe sit among the 18 delegates. What has she ever said about growing county spending? I'll tell you what: ZIP. ZERO. NADA. Why? She's too busy raising her hand on command and rubberstamping the budget to actually say anything.
The bottom line is we need good, conservative Republicans to step up to the plate, make a sacrifice, and run in the primary in order to take out the current crop of do-nothing Republicans and replace them with people that are actually willing to do more than hang out at the country club with the little name tags after winning an election (when they're not voting for more spending, that is...).
Anyway,
Comments
After reading Mr Young's comments in his editorial printed in today's Laconia Sun, I am wondering if he now doesn't support a "Tax Cap" like the one that he aledgedly fathered in Laconia? Is he now claiming that a 13% increase in the county budget is fine with him????
I'm beginning to think that Mr. Young's petty skirmish with Doug would have him saying this is a very mild winter if Doug stated that we broke snow fall records!
Posted by: Terry Stewart | March 4, 2008 02:36 PM