HB137

This is yet another way to get NH citizens to pay for something the majority of us don't want and certainly don't want to pay for. Saying the SWEPT money stays with the town/municipality and then making us responsible for paying for Education Freedom Accounts, which we didn't/don't support, rather than taking the funds from the Education Trust Fund which you already changed in order to use the money for EFA's is just wrong wrong wrong. It is appalliing you think it is reasonable to reduce your budget and reduce taxes at the state level, by passing costs down to local taxpayers who are already heavily burdened with high property taxes. And the costs are not ones approved by towns/locals, they were created by you the state legislature!!! Towns/municipalities do not have the many different sources of funding the state has -- to think it is fair to shift your decisions/responsibilities to local taxes is undecsribably disrespectful. VOTE NO!!!

This basically states that property rich towns can continue to keep the extra statewide property tax they raise and use it for their own schools and municipal projects rather than turning it over to the State to distribute to school districts statewide in an equitable way. The SWEPT money was meant to equalize education spending across the state and if towns raise extra money through the statewide property tax that money should be used statewide.

Property rich towns need to practice equity and allow poorer districts to benefit from their extra funds.

Property rich towns should return excess funds to the state to be Shared equitably across the State.

No, this bill ties the hands of the school districts to spend the money raised. It isn't enough money to begin with. This bill intends to fill the state's coffers from money directed to the schools, while the state reduces so many sources of revenue that it is mind-boggling. Same as my last testimony because the state is unfairly handling the money that is being generated.

All excess SWEPT should be sent to the Education Trust Fund to be distributed to municipalities that didn't raise enough through SWEPT for the state to meet its constitutional obligation to fund an adequate education. Please vote HB137 inexpedient to legislate. Thank you.

Any excess SWEPT should be sent to the Education Trust Fund to be distributed to municipalities that didn't raise enough through SWEPT for the state to meet its constitutional obligation to fund an adequate education. HB137 should be voted inexpedient to legislate.