John Cloutier

Mr. Chair & House Finance Committee Members, Unfortunately because of a conflict with my employment schedule as a security officer, I am unable to personally testify on HB 1399 today. But I am in strong support of this bill, which I understand would reimburse the Claremont School District at least somewhat for the renovation of Stevens High School, the public high school serving Claremont. Facing the loss of the high school's accreditation in 2013, Claremont voters approved a $12.6 renovation bond. A renovation bond for which they have had to pay since 2013 on their own, with no state building aid. Building aid that was discontinued a few years earlier by we in legislature due to the fiscal crisis brought on by the Great Recession of 2008 . Building aid that had given to many other school districts in the past. Because the Claremont School District has had to pay for the high school's renovation on its own, property taxes have increased resulting in Claremont having one of the highest property tax rates in our state. Such high property taxes overly burden many of my constituents who are not wealthy, & have discouraged some families & businesses from moving in to Claremont. In summary, this high tax burden is not helping Claremont to prosper not only now, but for the future. Therefore, for the sake of fairness, I urge you to give HB 1399 a unanimous OTP vote. Thank you. State Rep. John Cloutier, Claremont