Christine Barker

I stand oppressed strongly to this punitive and devastating ANTI-SMALL BUSINESS AND ANTI-ENTREPRENEURIAL BILL! This is punitive and doesn't relate to offering any direct expenses by the State or municipalities regarding vacation rentals or unoccupied homes. Between the first 2 bills, HB1707 and HB1580, if I'm calculating it correctly taxes (on my $525,000 valued STR) will go from about $5400/yr to $14800/yr! I will be at a great loss if these bills pass. It will be the END OF MY LITTLE BUSINESS. Due to my age and health this is HOW I MAKE ENDS MEET so it will be devastating! One bill doubles my taxes (to $10,800) and it's sent to the general fund of the State. And the other bill taxes me another $4000 to go to the Town general fund! On a macro level, these increases will DRIVE MOST people OUT OF THE VACATION RENTAL BUSINESS completely especially if they only rent part of the year and most who rent small places, even if year-round. So this will ultimately result in just suppressing vacations rental availability of the "little guy" until the BIG CORPORATIONS come in and start building hotels and resorts because they are the ONLY ONES WHO WILL BE ABLE TO ABSORB THOSE COSTS. This is an ATTACK ON SMALL BUSINESS and ENTREPRENEURSHIP in the State. This is just a money grab for the general fund and has NO DIRECT RELATION TO VACATION HOME RENTAL EXPENSES FOR THE STATE OR MUNICIPALITIES which makes it PUNITIVE. Even VACATION HOME OWNERS who do not live in their homes year-round or/and rent their home for part of the year (fall within the "unoccupied" classification) will be PRICED OUT even though they likely USE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF STATE AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES. ELDERLY FOLKS who hoped to become snowbirds will not be able to afford to keep their NH homes and WILL HAVE TO FLEE THE STATE just when the can finally relax and enjoy some level of retirement and travel regularly. I'm just furious! YOU SHOULD BE HELPING REDUCE TAXES but our taxes just doubled 2 years ago and now this!!