Granite State Fair Tax Coalition is Neither Local nor About Fairness

Updated for 2009

It’s that time again. People all over NH will be getting ready for town meetings. The town meeting is the esteemed NH institution where residents can exercise control of how their property tax dollars are spent for both town and school, by means of first gathering to discuss the issues to be voted on in deliberative sessions, and next a vote, whether it be by voice or show of hands, or by secret ballot in areas that use Senate Bill 2.

Once again the “Granite State Fair Tax Coalition” is gearing up their assault on our NH values. This “front” group for the UN’s World Council of Churches has craftily devised a name that allows them to pose as a local ‘grassroots’ NH group who appears to care about saving your money. Don’t fall for it.

Their activities are directed and funded mostly through the Unitarian Universalist Church’s Social Justice and Action Network (that website has been taken down, but you can read about that subject here: UUA Justice Organization ) which is funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars from sources FAR outside NH. The Social Justice and Action Network of the UU Church is in fact more a political arm of the UN than a religious organization.

They will likely once again invade our town meetings and to trick people into voting for non-binding warrant articles that vowed to reject the Pledge against an income or sales tax. Even though somewhat successful at this in 2006, their actions only succeeded in gaining publicity for the Pledge and resulted in more candidates taking the Pledge than ever before. Plus, residents voted down many instances of frivolous spending.

There ought to be some outrage from the public that a group which is well-funded from sources FAR outside NH shows up at our town meetings and tries to trick the locals into supporting an income or sales tax. Be prepared to counter them at your town meeting in 2009.

Don’t be deceived. Imposing and income or sales tax will NOT lower your property taxes. It will instead be just another tax. Please see the Documents page for two studies that prove this fact from the Yankee Institute (Conn) – “Fifteen Years of Folly” and Atlantic Institute (Vt) – “A River Divides It”.

Here was the mailing members received:

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We believe in a New Hampshire that is just and fair.The property tax has become unjust and unfair. State leaders who take a pledge for no new taxes perpetuate higher and higher property taxes. We call on our State Representatives, our State Senators and our Governor to reject the “Pledge,” have an open discussion covering all options, and adopt a revenue system that lowers property taxes.

Hope to see you!
The Rev. William Exner, president
Granite State Fair Tax Coalition
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You can read more about the GSFTC scam to reduce property taxes here: Granite State Fair Tax Coalition