by Ed Naile
Senator Jackie Cilley, D-Barrington had this to say about taxes in NH:
Senator Jackie Cilley says “the system raises moral questions since, of the 60 percent of state revenue derived from property taxes, low-income residents pay more than those on the high end of the pay spectrum.”
“The long-term consequences are coming home to roost, evidenced by local tax caps that may well spell the death knell for the vitality” of communities, she said. “The caps are a reaction to the ‘untenable burden’ of rising property taxes brought on by cuts at the state level that downshift services to the county and municipalities”, she added.
What this means is Senator Cilley knows a little bit of this and a little bit of that about taxes, but when you add it all up she knows a whole lot about nothing useful.
First, the system we have is quite the moral system. Our tax system allows for the most control of taxes by taxpayers – the people who pay the taxes, or should I say have them taken from them, in the United States.
New Hampshire, without a rollercoaster ride on the broad based tax scheme, plans its budgets based on votes for spending by citizens and collects taxes against a more stable method – the value of property in the municipality. The process is open to all and as transparent as a tax base can be.
Some would call it fair.
What Senator Cilley doesn’t seem to grasp about “tax caps” is that they are not a simple move to irresponsibly cut or slash taxes. What she calls a tax cap is really a taxpayer generated effort to STOP OVER-SPENDING.
How is over-spending “moral” Senator Cilley?
It wasn’t that long ago your Democrat Legislature and Governor spent 17.5% more than the last NH budget, (along with wild revenue projections) and of course NOW you are shifting your excess onto the shoulders of the local taxpayers.
NH voters amended the NH Constitution to include Article 28-A to stop unfunded mandates from Concord. It was an act of survival and politicians like you foresaw doom and gloom then.
Now taxpayers are going to halt over-spending with spending caps until you get the message.
How do you like that deal.