Rochester Concerned Taxpayers Association Reaction to Passage of the Tax & Spending Cap Charter Change Amendment
With 70% of the vote, the Rochester taxpayers sent the message loud and clear that we want smaller government and less spending. This overwhelming mandate gives the City Council and the city manager clear direction from the people – no more irresponsible use of the taxpayer’s money.
Having to formulate a municipal budget that puts responsible limits on government growth, the City Council and city manager are now forced to do more long range planning and innovative problem solving. There will be no more projects or labor union contracts negotiated first and then taking from the taxpayer what they need to fulfill their spending. Now, the Council and city manager will have to look at the budget the people have put them on and prioritize those things needed to run the City.
This is a truly a great day for the taxpayers of Rochester. The economy is showing signs of a recession and after many months of escalating living costs, we now have a mechanism in place that will help slow the growth of one very large bill – our property taxes.
The Rochester Concerned Taxpayers Association (RCTA) wishes to especially thank Cliff Newton, Tom Kaczynski, Carol Colbath, Sue O’Conner, Arthur Walsh, Ron Minion, Fred Leonard, Rob & Doris Gates, Paul Vatcher, Dave Sangster and Bill Sunderalnd. These were the people who worked at the grassroots level for months to educate the people of Rochester about the benefits of the tax & spending cap. We also want to thank the Hew Hampshire Advantage Coalition and the Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers for their support and advice. We also had support and advice from the good people of Dover, Franklin and Laconia who worked to institute a cap in their communities. But most importantly, it is the people of Rochester that should take the credit for voting themselves some measure of tax relief at a time when we need it most!
Because we have always said that the tax and spending cap is the beginning and not the end, the RCTA will continue to work to provide needed information to the taxpayers of Rochester regarding City, school and now county government. We believe that our City Councilors, School Board members, county elected officials and our state delegation should represent the values important to preserving the New Hampshire advantage.
So once again, congratulations to the taxpayers of Rochester and please continue to support the RCTA as we go forward and advocate issues important to our community.
Rob Gates, Fred Leonard & Tom Kaczynski
Rochester Concerned Taxpayers Association