Hunter Taylor: NH out of national mainstream regarding school funding

To The Daily Sun,

It's budget time again in Belknap County, and our state representatives will replay the same farce they play every year. As they make a few cuts in the county budget proposed by the county commissioners, they will cry crocodile tears about the ever-increasing local property taxes.

What they never admit is that they are directly responsible for the ballooning property taxes. Since the 1990s, our Supreme Court has declared our state (not the towns and cities) responsible for ensuring an adequate public education.

When in Concord, our representatives repeatedly lower taxes that could be used to support public education, and instead provide subsidies for those who want to use home schooling or private schools. Although the Legislature created a state school tax, they made it payable as part of local property taxes.

It is important to understand how New Hampshire is completely out of the national mainstream regarding school funding. Nationally, public schools receive 45% of their funding from the state, 42% from local taxes and 13% from federal sources. In NH, it is 63% from local property tax, 29% from the state and 8% federal.

Taking three Belknap County towns as examples, we see great excess and gross unfairness in our our local taxes. Assuming a $350,000 residential property, the property owner in 2025 county taxes will pay $6,086 in Belmont, $4,886 in New Hampton and $3,717 in Meredith.

If the state school tax is dropped and the state pays 50% of the local school tax amount, the Belmont owner's tax drops to $3,955, the New Hampton owner would pay $3,062 and the Meredith owner $2,432.

Why aren't our state representatives recognizing this and working to improve the situation? If they won't or can't do it, let's replace them with representatives who will.

Hunter Taylor

Alton