Friday, December 08, 2006
Where is the Rep help?
I e-mailed two state reps today to solicit thier help in trying to alleviate a tax burden in our upcoming budget. Between the town and school retirement fund, we the taxpayers of Derry, will need to come up with an addition 2.5 Million dollars for FY08. In the e-mail I ask the Alliance of Derry Taxpayer members and state reps Paul Hopfgarten and Howie Lund this simple question. What are you doing at the state level to help us get out of this mess? One response I got from Paul was- Don't expect much because the Democrats have taken over. I thought the people of Derry elected him to represent us, the Derry taxpayers. I don't care how many Dems or Rep are in the state house-why dosn't he try to get a bill together and try something, anything. I have yet to hear from Mr Lund. I know he has supported gambling why can't he support or create a bill with Derry taxpayers in mind. These two members want to change our local form of goverment from a represenative form to an offical ballot form. Maybe thats why we don't feel represtented in Concord, they don't believe in it.
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4 comments:
BC, who I will assume from the text is Brian Chirichello, Derry Town Council Chiarman...here is my response:
Did you contact the rest of the Delegation as well? What did Rep Gould and Sen Letourneau say when you talked to them Thursday Night at the same function where you talked to me? OR….because you don’t see them as local political opposition, did they get a free pass on this?
Did you offer me any language to present as an LSR?
NO-You did Not!
Did you wait till two days before the close of the LSR filing period to even e-mail the question, and only to the 2 Reps you would least likely come to for legitimate assistance to try and score some quick political points?
YES YOU DID!
As Chair, did you set up a meeting with the Delegation right after the election to express your concerns to the entire delegation on the NH Retirement Issue, which you would have done IF YOU REALLY CARED ABOUT THE ISSUE, and not about SCORING POLITICAL POINTS?
NO-You did NOT!
Did you discuss this issue in the last bi-ennium (of which you were a Councilor the entire time) with Former Rep Zolla, who was on ED&A and was recognized State-Wide as a leader on issues regarding the NH Retirement System?
IF YOU DID-YOU NEVER MADE IT PUBLIC!
And as to the issue, do you REALLY THINK the Democrat majority (many who get to sit as a direct result of there NH Retirement Money) is going to allow the employer contributions to become employee contributions?
Where's your solution, Brian? And why did you not offer it with your e-mail to me of Wednesday.
I think the fact that you're going after only 2 of the 11 Reps and 1 Senator, the only 2 involved with the local Tax Group (ADT) that is willing to challange the actions of the Council under your so-called Leadership shows all that read this that your issue is NOT REALLY the NH Retirement System, but your intense desire to cast those you percieve as local politcal enemies in the poorest possible light. I wonder if the fact that Howie and I are on the Charter Commission, working to return voting rights to the citizens directly is whats really getting under your skin.
Can I assume then, that you WILL NOT vote for ANY of the SEVEN Union Contracts (all exp Jun 30 07) that do not have increased Retirement Contributions from the employees? Right?
Brian, if you want to roll around in the Political Mud, then we can discuss some of your transgressions as Chair as well. Is that what you really want? It appears that way!
Prove me Wrong!
To close, on the issue of the NH Retirement System, there have been some bills filed. We'll see what the specific text(s) are and we can them make a determination of path forward. I will say don't hold your breath that a Legislature with MANY ex State and Municipal Employees is going to vote for any bill to tighten the Group I and II contribution rates.
(A bill to prohibit EX State and Municipal Employees from Serving in the Legislature might be a better proposal at this point...too many foxes in the henhouse...actually no one that receives any moneies from the State of NH other than their Legislative Salary and Mileage should be allowed to serve)
Rep. Paul Hopfgarten
Derry
Mr. Hopfgarten,
Please explain your departure from the Derry Town Council & your desire to resume the position. As for the Derry Charter Commission, your groups position was rejected by the NH Attorney General office, but, the Derry taxpayers pick up the bill for this endeavor.Under which specific mandate, do the Taxpayers of the Town of Derry are obligated to pay your expenses & the mechansism to which, these Taxpayers are informed & the expenses to which they are being charged.
JR
MORE FINGER POINTING...JUST WHAT WE DON'T NEED IN DERRY REP.PAUL. IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING TO SAY..SAY IT..I'M SO TIRED OF ALL THE THREATS TO TALK ABOUT THINGS..FOR ALL THE CONTINUED THREATS TO WRITE THE GOVERNOR...TO FORM AN ETHICS COM...IS THIS THE TOWN COUNCIL OR THE PLAYGROUND...MANY DAYS IT DIFFICULT TO TELL. IF HALF OF THIS NEGATIVE ENERGY WE'RE SPENT ON ACTUALLY TRYING TO HELP THE TOWN OF DERRY..WE'D ALL BE SO MUCH FURTHER AHEAD..INSTEAD..WE'RE TRACKING BACKWARDS..ITS A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS! ENOUGH ALREADY..I'M FED UP..START WORKING TOGETHER! PLEASE!
Until such time as our representatives understand the importants of not only slowing down residential growth, and offsetting Homeowners costs of schools, the state of our town will decline. Our town must be one of the first to demand the allowance of new construction impact taxes. These impact fees work great in Florida and have many positive attributes. Because our state does not, nor will it have income or sales taxes, many non homeowners skate through the system at a fraction of the cost to homeowners. Many politicians state renters pay their fair share via their rent, since landlords fold that tax obligation into the rents billed the tenents; this is far from the truth in fact, many larger rental communities are not taxed on value like single family homes. Many are taxed on NET profit and income. We all know the businesses have the ability to make large profits dissapear into losses. In addition, rental units are transient. They may have a hand in putting 3,4 or 5 different families through the school system whereas single family dwelling might impact the system through 1 or 2 generations. Rental units are a perpetual drain on school services with nominal contribution. The Town of Derry needs to address this and mandate a head tax on school attendance by renters. It's the only way it will work.
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