Joe Cormier: Clarification needed on Moultonborough tax cap warrants

To The Daily Sun,

Moultonborough has tax cap petitions on the warrants for both the 2025 town and the school district annual meetings. Clarification of the verbiage is needed in the statutes; town RSA32:5-b and -c and school district RSA32:5-e and -f .

The town statute says “a town or district” (district: municipal and/or school?) can adopt a tax cap. The school district statute says “a school district” can adopt a budget cap. Both statutes say the operating budget and all other articles that have a tax impact are included; Tax cap and Budget cap … the same??

Town statute: “taxes to be raised for the fiscal year shall not exceed the local taxes raised for the prior year.” Which FY year? Adopted in FY2025, but we're told will not change budget till FY2027. “Budgeteers” just finished the FY2026 budget for the FY2025 meetings; surely don't want to change!

School statute: “shall not exceed the current per pupil cost times the average daily membership in residence (ADMR) of the school district as of October 1 of the year immediately preceding the proposed budget year.” What is the proposed budget year? FY2026 or FY2027. Adoption year is clearly FY2025. Fiscal year starts on July 1 of one calendar year and ends on June 30 of the next calendar year.

It's thought that RSA32:5-b and -c are for the towns, and RSA32:5-e and -f are for the schools. That means the school petition cites the wrong statute and will probably be declared “unenforceable.”

“Lo and Behold” town RSA 32:5-c, II is then noticed. Petitions from RSA39:3 (town) or RSA197:6 (school) can put tax cap RSA32:5-b on the warrant, including school warrant.

So that means schools can have a budget cap and/or a tax cap, while towns have tax cap only!

I need a beer!

Joe Cormier

Moultonborough