John Petit

New Hampshire's property taxpayers have been paying the state's unpaid share of local education costs for more than 30 years because the state is not meeting its constitutional obligation to provide an adequate education. The additional burden on property taxpayers has resulted in New Hampshire having the 4th highest property tax rates among the 50 states. This is unsustainable and untenable. Property taxpayers are at the breaking point. HB 1636 is legislation that's long overdue and would require the Department of Revenue Administration to hire consultants to develop no fewer than 5 options to raise an estimated $500 million a year in state revenue. That would be an almost 50% increase of the state’s current spending on local education and would meet the “minimum conservative threshold” base adequacy as ruled by the New Hampshire supreme court. The DRA's analysis would provide a report to the public and the legislature that would allow the legislature to consider detailed options to increase the state's share of school funding, which would reduce the strain on local property taxpayers. Please support HB 1636 to ensure the state legislature has the options to consider the best course of action going forward to provide much needed property tax relief and ensure the minimum amount of state funding for public schools. Thank you.