In Bow, Enough is Enough
Friday, February 21, 2014
In 2003 we moved to Bow from Concord, having fallen love with a nice little home. The tax rate was acceptable at $3,800, but 10 years later taxes are approximately $6,000, a 58 percent increase.
I wish our income had increased to match, but it hasn’t.
From 2006-13 the town tax portion of taxes have increased 52 percent, and an issue that was rejected last year is back: the public safety building, at an estimated cost of $7.6 million, with a bond rate of 4 percent and a total cost of $10.9 million. Bow Capital Improvement Plan current bond rates are estimated at 5 percent, not 4. The project phases include replacement of the community center ($5 million) and a new traffic circle. Not shown in any cost is a 10 percent contingency, with bond interest of $7.5 million to the taxpayer. That brings both phase expenditures to $17.4 million-plus. Still no numbers for Phase 3 and 4, and, by the way, the school board is planning a warrant article for a bond issue of $5.2 million for renovations to the elementary school. Plus bond interest.
Enough is enough. It is time to say no. It is time for defined scrutiny. The Concerned Taxpayers of Bow have put forth a warrant article that salvages the current fire station, giving us time to review and propose alternatives to the current plan. Please come to the school district meeting and the town meeting. Without your support for change, your taxes will go up and up.
John C. Caron, Bow