Who's Running for Council Seats?

When we think of January, we automatically think of the new year.
Some of us are in football play-off mode. With the Patriots playing perfect so far. it is quite the change of football team I watched as a young kid back in the seventies. ( I'm sure many can relate.)
This January is New Hampshire's month to pick a Presidential Candidate. With all the TV ads and the phone calls and attention from nationally recognized politicians, it will be a welcome and strange feeling to see them move on to other states.
and then.... Hopefully we can understand the importance of electing our local government body.
January is the time for anyone willing to commit to helping the town and the taxpayers with governing of our town. This is time of year when citizens come up and say they are willing to spend time helping our town "get it right."
We have two council seats and two school board seats that are up for election in March.
Lets talk about the council seats right now.
The two councilors whom their terms expire are: Councilor Craig Bulkley and Councilor Bev Ferrante. Bulkley is a councilor at large and Ferrante is District #3 councilor.
At this time, I can tell you that Councilor Bulkley has decided not to run. After 14 years in local politics and being a town administrator, Councilor Bulkley has given of his time, knowledge and expertise for many years and I wish to thank him and his family for the sacrifice of many years for the benefit of the town. This speaks volumes of the kind of person Mr Bulkley is and I am glad I had a chance to serve with him as town councilor.
Running for his seat of Councilor at Large will be someone who has just as much passion and knowledge of this town.
Mr.Brad Benson owner of Benson's Hardware.
And in District 3 at this point only one name as surfaced and the rumor has it that Doug Newell will run in this district. ( this rumor has been known as soon as the ADT proposal for Elderly Exemptions came out.)
Stay tuned for more on the candidates emerging to take a run at local politics.
Should be a good one!

Perfect Storm II

This topic has so many posts comments that it will be easier to continue on this new thread. Lots of good discussion is posted here and would like your comments.

Another Tight Budget Upcoming!

New preliminary numbers are getting noticed for Derry's upcoming 09 budget. As most are aware of the Town's tax cap, which is tied into the CPI ( consumer price index ) and are allowed to be raised up to that determined number.

It looks like that number will be 2.7%. meaning on town side only, Councilors will be only allowed to raise town side taxes by 2.7% maximum.

Last year it was 3.3% however the council choose to raise only by 1.9%.

My understanding is that in dollar terms, we are allowed to increase by $765,000 or so however with the town being 80-85% personal driven and with Cost of living increases, health insurance costs and everything else for projects, we have a bill of about $800,000 coming. Meaning....

Another tight tight budget and as it stands right now....

a shortfall of about $35,000.

It will be interesting to see how things get played out this year in budget time.

Some Questions like how will the largest Elderly exemption be paid for? How much will others have to pay for this potential give away? How much money will the bike path people want? $80,000? $100,000?

When will we have contracts with our seven unions?

How much will we be billed for the retirement funds this year?

How much will our taxes go up if we don't get the state ed money we got last year

( rumor has it we will have to make up $2Mil locally. That's .80Cent to $1.00 increase)

How does kindergarten affect our tax rate- How does Pinkertons new freshman wing effect us?

Stayed tuned everyone. Stay informed and enjoy the tax decrease you got this year ( as small as that was)

Things are going to get interesting in the town of Derry!

Yes Derry, There is a Santa!

Yes Derry, There is a Santa!

...and her name is Ms Hanna Rutter Martin and boy oh boy did she leave a special gift under the tree for all of Derry!

Ms. Martin has given the town an easement on 44 acres of some of the finest land in all of Derry. That's right she GAVE this gift to all of us and we thank her very much.

In a time where the all mighty dollar is king and people are buying and selling as is the American way. Every once in a great while you read stories about people who do these types of things for the benefit, for the love of community.

And to know we have those type of special people living right with us in our own town means even more about who we are as a community.

Thank-You Thank-you Thank-you! -Santa!

Perfect Storm Brewing

Nobody has a crystal ball and can fortell the future. However from what I see, we have a perfect storm brewing and it ain't pretty.
Taxpayers-Hold on! you are about to go on the ride of your life!- No I'm not talking about some new ride a your favorite amusement park either.
Taxes are about to skyrocket for the next few years.
Lets take a look into the crystal ball and see what is going on right now to foretell of this horrible situation.
The ADT ( alliance of Derry taxpayers group), and three councilors who are heavily aligned with this group- Councilors Coyle, Fairbanks, and Carney are proposing an increase in Elderly Tax exemptions. Introduced at the last council meeting , a public hearing will be scheduled in January for this very topic.
First, I want to say that this is a political ploy and pandering to the elderly voters. Why do I say this? Simple, The group of councilors know that this discussion is taken up during budget time ( March) of every year. In fact this year it was mentioned by this councilor and fell on deaf ears. Where was the voice from these councilors then- No where! so now that election time is coming they are making their pandering obvious.
Now their proposal increases every single number in the elderly exemptions making it much easier for many more people to qualify. Take a look: On allowed income we go from $28k single and 35K married to 35K single and 45K married.
The allowed income assets now are 100K ( not counting primary home) and they propose to raise it to $200k
And the amount of value in their plans increases dramatically topping out at allowing a deduction of $200K if 80 or older.
Now, allow me to make a bold statement here:
I AM IN FAVOR OF ELDERLY EXEMPTIONS AND HAVE PUBLICLY SUPPORTED THEM.
however, the program is set up for people on fixed incomes and are in need! Say it again. ARE IN NEED.
Do you think that a couple making 44K a year income and have almost a quarter of a million dollars in the bank should get a tax break? Do you have 199K in the bank?
Now make sure you understand this statement because it is very important. When you give tax breaks to some groups- others pay the difference. That's called a tax shift. Overall taxes did not go down so the savings this group proposes will be borne to the others- Called a tax increase!
Now hear me out, I don't mind paying a little extra for someone who can't make it financially but I am opposed to paying lots extra for some who may have 200K in the bank.
I say keep the exemptions that we just increased 2 years ago- it works to help the truly needy elderly. The ADT and Coyle Fairbanks, Carney proposal is a pandering tax break that raises taxes on everyone else- families, low income people that are not elderly and 94% of the rest of us taxpayers.
Also- Coyle Fairbanks and Carney are spearheading a bike path proposal which we learn the taxpayers will be asked for between 80K-100K in the next upcoming budget.
Well I'm here to tell you that may be one of every three dollars allowed for next years increase of town side taxes. What happen to needs before wants. And on top of all of these shenanigans we can anticipate that we will have to make up for shortfall of state ed dollars to the tune of at least .80 cent tax increase before we even talk kindergarten, or Pinkerton academy's new freshman experiment.
Hold on! the perfect storm is coming. Please take notice! And let me be the first one to tell you to be prepared for very rough times coming unless we get back to being frugal and spending on our true needs and not "luxury items" and/or pandering for votes.

Can you live tax free in New Hampshire?

Is it really possible to live tax free in New Hampshire? In the state that touts third overall lowest tax burden in the country, you would have to have no phone service, can not purchase gasoline, can't smoke or drink or eat out at restaurants for that matter. However most of us granite staters are not overly concerned about those taxes as much as we are about the "biggie" tax bills- our property taxes!
Now it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that we need to pay for services such as education, police/fire, public works because money doesn't just fall off of the trees you know.
But, can anyone live in this state without paying a huge amount in taxes!
The answer is YES!
Now before you get all excited about saving loads of money, there are requirements that need to be met. After all, This little secret should be for some one on limited income right!
How about someone who has paid into the tax system for many years and now may need help- Of course.
Look lets be real for a minute. Most of us at any given times in our lives don't get all the services that our taxes pay for. It will never happen. In fact, many of us that move into the towns that we inhabit don't shop the tax rate and see what services we could use and which ones we won't need. ( neat concept though)
OK, lets see how someone could live property tax free in Derry!
1) Must be at least 65 years old
2) Must be a NH resident for at least 3 years
3) Can Not make more than 28K as a single person or 35K married in SALARY
4) NOT including your home- you may not have more than 100K in funds
If you meet these above requirements- you are allowed a tax exemption.
That exemption will depend on your actual age.
65-74 yrs of age- you get to deduct $82,300 of value off of your assessed value on your home
74-79 yrs of age- you get to deduct $122,000
80 or older- you get to deduct $163,300 off of assessed value.
Not bad.
In todays market there are plenty of 2 bedroom, single floor condos that one could purchase for under $163300. And therefore! You can live tax free in the Granite State!

Bring on Big Box Stores!

The results of our on-line polling revealed that readers want the town to bring in Big Box stores into town. The poll results were up for 3 weeks and here's how the readers responded.

Q: Does Derry want Big Box Stores?

Yes votes=23

No Votes=15

Unsure=3

I believe we should bring some into town. We will never compete with the Salems, Nashuas, Manchesters in the retail business, however we should have some good cross mix of big box right here at home. Thanks to all the participated!