Dietsch: Is Ricciardi unaware ed funding ruled unconstitutional?

Ms. Ricciardi seems either confused, naive or unaware of the constitutional requirements for funding of public education. On the one hand, she claims that she wants to retain the current system of education funding, even though Cheshire County Superior Court this year ruled it unconstitutional and burdensome to those towns least able to pay. On the other hand, her flyers claim that she wants to follow President Trump and Secretary DeVos's plan to have "money follow the child." This is also unconstitutional. And it would mean either higher taxes, to fund religious and private schools, as well as public. Or it would mean less money for public schools and more for non-public. Which unconstitutional option does she really support?

Ms. Ricciardi also seems unaware of the year of work the Commission to Study School Funding has been doing, or she wishes to ignore it. The Commission has contracted a research group that has provided equitable funding plans for other states to suggest possible plans for New Hampshire.

I am in favor of a fair system of property taxation. Many of the fourteen towns in senate district 9 are suffering from excessive property taxes, with a quarter-million-dollar house in one town paying as much as a million-dollar property in the Lakes and Seacoast regions. If Ms. Ricciardi wants to truly be the voice of the people, as she claims, she should start listening to the taxpayers of her district.