Alyssa Barras

Dear Chairman and Members of the House Ways and Means Committee, My name is Alyssa Barras, and I own a short-term rental property in New Hampshire. I’m writing because I strongly oppose HB1580. This bill would add a surcharge on non-primary residences valued over $500,000. While it may be framed as a tax on “luxury” homes, in reality it would hit people like me, a teacher and small property owners who rely on rental income just to keep up with rising costs like property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and utilities. Short-term rental owners already contribute a lot to the state. We pay the New Hampshire Meals and Rooms Tax on every single booking, which generates significant revenue. Adding another tax simply because a property crosses a certain value feels unfair, especially when we are already being taxed more than most homeowners. Most STR owners are not big corporations or wealthy investors. We’re regular people who have put our savings into properties in New Hampshire and take pride in maintaining them so our guests can enjoy them as much as we do. Our guests spend money at local restaurants, shops, and small businesses, which is especially important in rural and tourist-driven communities. HB1580 would make it much harder for responsible hosts to keep operating, which could reduce tourism and hurt the very local economies the state depends on. I urge you to consider these real-world impacts and vote against HB1580. Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully, Alyssa Barras