Special Interests Back in Control of Hampton Boards, Huge Tax Increases Planned

As a result of last year’s election candidates representing "special interests" have
taken control of the Hampton Board of Selectmen, as well as the Hampton and
Winnacunnet School Boards. Voters allied with employee unions and other
"special interests" showed up in big numbers in 2012, while almost
1,000 people who voted in 2011 were "no shows." We believe the
"no shows" were largely the result of the general public becoming
complacent after five consecutive years without property tax increases.  Rosemary Lamers, Jerry Znoj and Denyse Richter, who had provided leadership on these boards in looking out for the interests of taxpayers and students, were voted out, and replaced by individuals with strong ties to "special interests."

The 2013 Voters’ guide has been sent to the printers and it should be arriving at your door next week.  2013 is a “watershed” year for Taxpayers, the most important Town Meeting since 2004 when Hampton turned the corner on the huge tax increases of the previous six years.  RTOH recommends candidates for office that will be sensitive to the interests of the general public.  

If all Warrant articles on the ballot are approved in 2013 taxes will increase by 7%!  7% increases compounded over five years would result in taxes on an average single-family home rising from $5,775 to $8,100 by 2017.  The 2013 Warrant articles recommended by the Rational Taxpayers of Hampton would increase taxes by 3.5%, that rate of increase translates to a $6,860 average tax bill by 2017.  To someone living on a fixed income the difference is huge. It would be nice to avoid any increase, but there are some essential capital spending items that need to move forward. 

Are you an ordinary person with no allegiance to a “special interest”?

Did you feel comfortable enough last year that you didn’t make the time to get out and vote?

Do you know which candidate on the ballot this year is a member of a public employee union?

Please get informed and get out and vote on March 12^th.

Norman Silberdick

For Rational Taxpayers of Hampton