CONCORD, N.H. - The head of a coalition opposed to New Hampshire's antitax pledge says he hopes a strong majority of towns voting on the issue today take a stand against the pledge.
"I'll be ecstatic if we win in three-quarters; I'll be happy if we win half," said Paul Henle, executive director of the Granite State Fair Tax Coalition.
Henle spoke yesterday, a day before the state's official Town Meeting day. He said nearly two dozen towns will vote on a resolution against the pledge today.
For decades, candidates for governor of New Hampshire have done poorly if they refuse to pledge to veto a broad-based income or sales taxes. But steadily rising property taxes have squeezed taxpayers, and the coalition says it is time to consider fairer alternatives.
The group does not recommend any specific solution.
Critics, however, say the only way to hold down taxes is to hold down spending. They say experience in other states shows that enacting income or sales taxes to reduce property taxes eventually leads to higher taxes overall.
The coalition, made up of church groups and the state chapter of the League of Women Voters, was founded a few months before Town Meeting last year. Fourteen towns voted on the resolution last spring, and 13 passed it, as did the city of Somersworth. The resolution is on the agenda in 89 towns this spring.
The coalition has tried to build support with forums, a video available on its Web, and media coverage, which Henle said is much greater this year.
The resolution is secondary to Town Meeting's main business, which is debating and approving an annual budget. Many communities also hold separate school district meetings.
Legally, Town Meeting is the once-per-year legislative branch in most towns. Town officers including selectmen are chosen by secret ballot.
Some issued are decided by ballot; others are debated and voted upon in the open.
Many such sessions are today, but some will be held later this week or month or in April or May.
It's a tough budget year in most communities and school districts for several reasons: Population growth has strained school, fire, and police budgets; healthcare costs are rising for teachers and municipal employees; the national economy is weak; and the winter has gobbled up snowplowing budgets.
Salem, Littleton, Hampton, Pelham, Brookline, and Charlestown are among the towns voting on new or upgraded police, fire, or public safety buildings.
Other common big-ticket items are new or improved school buildings, road repairs, and purchases or easements to conserve land.
