Cornelia Sargent | Support HB1636

Urging you support HB 1636 = the Dept. of Revenue Administration to simply identify revenue options for the legislature to meet its constitutional duty to fund an adequate education, as mandated by the ConVal decision. This bill directs the NH Department of Revenue Administration to provide several different revenue options so lawmakers can have detailed, data-driven options to increase school funding from the state to reduce the increasing strain on local property taxpayers. HB 1636 is solution oriented, not a tax or mandated policy outcome. ConVal represents nearly 60% of NH students from mostly struggling towns, including my ancestral home of Claremont. The Supreme Cort explicitly states our state obligation to an adequate education. Expensive Defeat of this legislation both abuses taxpayer money while denying students their Constitutional rights. Over thirty years and multiple Supreme Court education rulings, the judiciary has deferred repeatedly to the legislature, trusting in the legislative oath. However, education funding passed by the legislature through unconstitutional biennial budgets trigger a court duty to intervene to uphold the Constitutional rights of our youth. Unconstitutional budgets also violate each legislator’s oath of office. I urge you to support HB 1636. The Department of Revenue Administration can identify various options for the legislature to comply with our state Constitution. Cornelia Sargent, ward 2 Claremont NH