Friday, June 27, 2008

Grade your current council

I have done this in the past and will do it again.
Time to rate the current council. We have had the new council seating as of March and we have come to the first quarter.

Grade this current council!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Entitlements gone wild?

I hate to say it but I will. I told you so! The derry taxpayers ( most of us anyway) are going to take it in the pocketbook again. This time its the entitlement program which is called the Elderly Tax Exemption. Now before we get started I want to say this:

I am not opposed to this program! When its used in its proper manner it is a help to struggling seniors who because of financial hardship can not pay taxes and would therefore lose their home.
In fact, I have supported this program here and in public radio.

However, the last round of elderly exemptions which I was the ONLY councilor to vote against because I saw this as an attempt by the DTA ( Derry Taxpayers Assoc) led by Doug Newell as simply a rouse to gain members in a time when the DTA is struggling politically.

The DTA sent out "surveys" to the seniors in our town to gauge their opinions. ( which interestingly enough the number one response from that survey coming back from those seniors was that taxes would be lower for ALL residents and not just them.)

Message to Doug! They want taxes lower for all not for a select few.

It is interesting to note that these seniors where also given an envelope and asked to contribute money to join the ADT. How convenient!

Now, you will hear it here first folks. The elderly exemptions exceeded the top range for exemption changes that were provided to the Council and the public. Which means it is costing all the rest of the taxpayers not getting exemptions more than the town had planned.

Remember, that when Doug and I debated each other that I said that the exemptions that some get will be made up by the rest of the taxpayers is true. And some say it's only a small amount and will not make a difference. Well I'm here to say that the time to increase exemptions is not when the rest of us are struggling with food costs, heating costs and the economy struggling.
Only when times are good should this be considered and the council that voted this in certainly did not care enough about this effecting you and I.

Here are numbers to look at:

Increase in 2008 exemptions granted +75 ( planned for a lot less)
Increase in 2008 valuation exempted + 9,130,338 ( that's nine mill that we others have to make up)

Total exempted granted in 2007: 162
Total exempted granted in 2008: 237

Total dollar amount granted in 2007 : $18,247,116
Total dollar amount granted in 2008: $27,377,454

Folks, the even more bad news is that they used the same tax rate of 22.05 to get these numbers because they do not set the rate until fall. We all know that it will be even more bad news for the majority of taxpayers in town and that these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg.

Ah but Doug Newell and ADT said they want to compete for more people so that they can take this exemptions.

I bet he does! Additional members for the ADT will finally get Mr. Newell elected.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

1st in the nation

A well round of applause is in order for the monument committee whom have established Derry as the first in the nation to honor the Iraq and Afghanistan vets with a beautiful monument.
I'm told that it was about a year in the half in the making and the wait was well worth it.

It was a very moving ceremony as we honored all vets and especially our local vets from different era's and different wars. The very first honoree was our very own town treasure Roy Feineuir. Roy fought in WWII and as he was introduced and was there representing all of WWII vets, the crowd had clapped and cheered and there was Roy waving to the crowd. I have had the pleasure to personally know Roy and also Bernie R whom is a vet as well who help put the whole day together. Great job gentlemen.

As the introduction from the Korean war, the Vietnam conflict and the Persian gulf conflicts were in order all the vets stood arm in arm as a band of brothers. This was a moving moment!

We had the Boys scouts lay out the wreaths, we had Pinkerton ROTC help out as well.

We had Senator Sununu, Congresswomen Shea, Senator Letorneau, and Council Chairman Metts.
The Governor gave a brief speech and awarded a proclamation to the town.

What a great day to say thanks to our Vets!!