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MARCH 12, 2024, ANNUAL TOWN VOTE
PROPOSALS FOR TOWNWIDE ELDERLY PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS
Vote NO on Article 29, AND
Vote YES on Article 33
Hampton, NH elected and appointed town officials seem to be resisting significant but long overdue additions and amendments to senior exemption qualifications and amounts for the 2024 March ballot. Yet neither of them makes mention of three upcoming projects that will have a much more considerable affect to local town taxpayers.
Blatant disregard or group incompetence?
PLEASE WATCH THIS RUMBLE VIDEO SUPPORTING ARTICLE 33 ON MARCH 12.
OTHER VARIABLES THAT SHIFT THE TAX RATE TO OTHERS NOT MENTIONED BY THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN OR OTHER TOWN OFFICIALS:
1. Interstate 95 (North and South bound) Liquor Store projects. Public must ensure properties are sold to private sector after completion. These properties will be tax exempt until then.
2. Affordable housing tax incentives
3. Hampton Beach State pier
ON MARCH 12, 2024
Vote NO on Article 29, AND
Vote YES on Article 33
NINE REASONS WHY:
What does one need to know about your town property tax rate in NH?
1. The town, using their assessing office, determines the value of the town, by performing a “townwide revaluation”. In Hampton, that function is outsourced to a third party.
2. Hampton selectmen will argue that it is their constitutional duty to perform a revaluation of the town every five-years. That statement is flawed.
First, regarding the upcoming townwide property revaluation, it was (1) stated at the November 27, 2023, public Hampton Board of a Selectmen meeting that the upcoming “statistical update was within the Selectmen’s "constitutional authority” and (2) priorly noted at a public meeting that a statistical update was in essence the same as a revaluation. Both those statements, agreed to by the town assessor and board of selectmen, are not factual.
Second, the Constitutional Authority is outlined in Part II [Art.] 6. Valuation and Taxation which states; “And there shall be a valuation of the estates within the state taken anew once in every five years, at least, and as much oftener as the general court shall order.” https://www.nh.gov/glance/constitution.htm
Third, the definition of estate is “One’s property, both real and personal, vested, and contingent, especially as disposed of in a will.”
Fourth, the definition of anew “Over again; another time; in a new form; afresh.”
Fifth, the NH Dept. of Revenue Administration defines a full revaluation and a statistical update differently.
Sixth, there is no caveat mentioned regarding statistical updates, included within the NH State Constitution Part II [Art.] 6.
Therefore, any findings that come from the Town of Hampton, NH 2024 Revaluation (statistical update) should NOT be considered by Hampton property tax payers.
3. The total valuation as determined by the town assessor (see #1), is the starting point. Currently (before the updates triggered by the 2024 update) the valuation of Hampton is $4.2 billion. This updated total valuation number will most likely increase after the 2024 values, the update will include all property sales (inflated like everything else) in the town for a certain two-year period. The updated total valuation will also incude the value of all building permits during that period
4. The first category of properties that DO NOT contribute to the tax rate are the EXEMPT PROPERTIES (court house, schools, town buildings, state buildings, and other governmental buildings…), in Hampton, that number is over $245 million. The 245 million gets deducted from the 4.2 billion starting point which leaves about 4 billion that contribute to the tax rate.
5. LESS tax-exempt properties in the town can offset the cost of the tax rate.
6. The second category of property exemptions are all other town exemptions, including the ELDERLY EXEMPTIONS, in Hampton, that number is $30 million, which would get deducted from the $4 billion that contributes to the tax rate. (HINT: The town could increase those town exemptions eight times over and it will still be substantially less than the EXEMPT PROPERTIES noted in #4.)
7. In 2022, Hampton’s total town tax rate (excluding the HB village district) was 15.84. That total rate includes the town portion (5.96), the local school portion - SAU90 and portion of SAU21 (7.62), the state school portion (1.38), and the county portion (0.89). the total school, local and state, is 9.00, or 57% of the total Hampton property tax bill. Most seniors do not have children in the school systems but are still paying the full rate through their property taxes.
8. LESS spending by both the town and schools can offset the cost the tax rate.
9. The board of selectmen have ensured that most Hampton non-union salaries are adjusted for current, highly inflated, cost of living adjustments. However, the elderly exemption amendments, as proposed by the town in warrant article #29 do not properly reflect for the same current, highly inflated, cost of living adjustments.
ON MARCH 12, 2024
Vote NO on Article 29, AND
Vote YES on Article 33
