To the editor,
As voters go to the polls to determine how tax dollars will be spent. Community Action Program, Belknap/Merrimack Counties, Inc. (CAP) is asking the voters of Gilford to support article 22 in the town warrant and appropriate $8236 to support the local area center office located in Laconia. Last year CAP programs provided Gilford residents with $647,555.61 of services returning $78.63 of service to Gilford residents for each dollar spent in support of the Laconia area center. This request is not for any social service program but solely for the operations of the area center. Staff salaries are the major budget expense.
The area center serves the residents of the city of Laconia and the five surrounding towns. We ask the city and each town we serve to share the expense of maintaining the office so that, when residents experience a hardship and find themselves unable to obtain basic needs such as food, shelter or fuel, the area center staff will be there to help them access resources for these basic life sustaining elements.
CAP works in partnership with local town and city welfare offices to assist residents in need using resources OTHER than local tax dollars. We are awarded contracts by the State of New Hampshire to administer programs to provide basic necessities to New Hampshire residents. We are also entrusted with grants from many businesses and individuals to provide needed assistance to residents seeking help in their time of need. All of the private funds donated to our agency are used exclusively for assistance. No administrative costs are provided, therefore we ask for the city and towns to share, with other federal and state funds, in the support of the area center so that staff will always be available to assist families and individuals in need.
Last year the staff visited 49 homebound elderly residents to provide nutritious meals-on-wheels. They provided over 98 residents with over 700 meals from the emergency food pantry. Over 240 Gilford households were provided with $192,255 in Fuel Assistance and over 280 Gilford households receive a discount on their electric bill because of the work of the area center staff. Over $152,745 was spent weatherizing 35 Gilford homes and $1848 was provided to residents facing a utility shutoff. Without the CAP area center these residents would have sought assistance from the town welfare office and local tax dollars for assistance which the town is required by law to provide. CAP provides other resources and not local tax dollars to help the town meet its legal commitment. As a Gilford resident I encourage town officials to seek out resources other than my tax dollars to provide assistance to local residents.
I hope the residents of Gilford find the work of the staff of Belknap/Merrimack Community Action Program worthy of support from their town.
Judy Scothorne
Gilford

To the editor,
I am writing today to encourage Gilford voters to join me in casting a vote for my friend, Pat LaBonte, for Fire Engineer. Pat, a lifelong resident of Gilford, has honorably served this town in various positions for nearly 50 years. He served as a budget committeeman for a total of 15 years (since the mid-1960s), three terms on the Board of Fire Engineers (1979–1988) and three terms as a selectman (1989–1998).
Pat recognizes that changes need to be made in regards to how the Board of Fire Engineers operates to ensure the board remains relevant into the future. Pat is NOT the candidate that was hand selected by the current chair of the Fire Engineers, there is no expectation the he will be a rubber stamp for the chair. You can expect Pat to correct problems not just hid them, or make excuses. Unlike the current board, Pat would never endorse a policy change that is designed to shield the Fire Department from any oversight. Pat would hold people accountable and not reward incompetency. Pat understands that the purpose of the Fire Engineers is to represent the taxpayers of Gilford while simultaneously ensuring that Gilford Fire and Rescue provides essential services to the community. Meanwhile he will vigilantly ensure that taxpayer funds are not wasted and all equipment that the taxpayers have entrusted in the Fire Department's care is properly maintained to ensure a maximum level of readiness, and equipment life span, as well as return on investment. Pat has a proven track record of tackling problems head on and not simply giving lip service.
Pat Labonte has always fought for the interest of the taxpayers, which is exactly what is badly needed on the Board of Fire Engineers. Please vote Pat LaBonte!
Kevin Leandro
Gilford

To the editor,
The Alton Central School Buildings and Grounds Committee would like to take this opportunity to clarify the cost of the proposed Alton Central School renovation that will appear in Article 2 on the ballot on March 12. The estimated cost of the project is $18.6 million, with $900,000 of that being paid as a "downpayment" from existing capital reserve funds. If approved by voters, the remaining $17.7 million would be paid through municipal bonds. The New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank has given the district a worse-case rate estimate of 2.99 percent. At this rate, the GROSS cost to taxpayers will be $102 per $100,000 of property value for each of the next 15 years. However, in 2012, taxpayers in Alton paid $68 per $100,000 of property value to retire the 10-year bond for Prospect Mountain High School. This means the NET change in taxes to pay for bonds related to school facilities when compared to 2012 rates will be $34 per $100,000 ($102 less $68 = $34). This means that if your property value is near the median value of $200,000 for Alton, your tax bill will increase by $68 in 2013.
If the bond rate is less than 2.99 percent, which is likely to be the case, the annual cost impact will be less than $34 per $100,000 of property value when compared to 2012 rates.
We encourage the citizens of Alton to visit www.alton.k12.nh.us to use the "Cost Calculator" on the main webpage. Enter your assessed property value and you will see your total annual contribution for the renovation as well as the net change in your taxes relative to 2012. The calculator also provides a monthly and weekly breakdown of your individual cost.
We hope that this explanation of the gross versus net taxpayer cost addresses the concerns of the community. If you have further questions, please contact the Alton SAU 72 office at 875-7890 or me (Buildings & Grounds Communication Committee Chair) at 285-5095.
Steve Renner
Alton Central School Building & Grounds Committee

To the editor,
Next Tuesday, March 12th I will vote for Pat Clark as he seeks re-election as Tilton-Northfield Fire District Fire Commissioner. Pat is a decent, hard working, honorable family man and a member of good-standing in our community. He has worked extremely hard to achieve the best for the district, its employees and the taxpayers during the past three years as Fire Commissioner. I respect him because he has no personal agenda.
Please join me in supporting the best candidate and re-elect for Pat Clark. Thank you.
Gretchen Wilder
Northfield