Eliza Leadbeater

I would like as a voter of Gilford to express my opposition to House Bills 1546 and 1629 -seeking to reduce both the Business Profit Tax and the Business Enterprise Tax. Never in the 15 years I served Belknap County as executive director of the Economic Development Council did I hear any business complain about NH business taxes. In fact, we have the lowest business taxes in the Northeast. Unfortunately, NH is listed in the top five states for property tax. What I did hear from business was the issues of attracting workers, upgrading workers skills to keep pace and profit from the advances in technology, and finding housing that was decent and affordable especially for young and also single workers. I think Belknap County did address upgrading training for the workforce by securing grants and now the NHEmployment Security does match the cost of training for employers. NHES also has a tax credit incentive for businesses with new hires. Unfortunately, only major businesses are aware of and take advantage of the credit for new hires. It is time to understand the impact of reducing these business taxes. Few businesses, if any, will invest this tax savings in expanding their companies. Higher profits usually means bigger bonuses for management. The more the Legislature continues to decrease and eliminate taxes you reduce opportunities for the state to generate revenues forcing our towns to increase property taxes. Increased property taxes harm everyone. Housing is less affordable and it's hard to attract and now, more often than ever, to keep employees. Please understand this and the damage these reductions and elimination of taxes are doing to NH's economic vitality?