Want to ski Killington, NH?

[Stephen]

Killington Residents Endorse Plan To Join New Hampshire
Town Wants To Secede Over Property Taxes

POSTED: 2:30 pm EST March 2, 2004

KILLINGTON, Vt. -- Voting with a thunderous "aye," Killington residents endorsed a plan Tuesday for the ski resort town to secede from Vermont.

The overwhelming voice vote inside the elementary school opened the next chapter in what could be a long and costly push to join New Hampshire, a state 25 miles to the east. Town officials estimated between 200-300 people attended the meeting, and that about two-thirds of them supported the idea in the voice vote.

"Other towns have been sitting back and waiting for Killington to break ground," said Jim Blackman, 46. "It is Killington's obligation to break that ground."

Blackman's comments were echoed by many of the dozen-odd residents who spoke at the town meeting.

Their comments mirrored Killington's long-standing frustration over how much the town of roughly 1,000 pays the state in taxes and how little residents say they get in return to pay for the town's school and municipal services.

That frustration drove town officials to launch the secession movement last fall. The town already has spent about $20,000 studying the feasibility and potential advantages of joining New Hampshire, the state where it was originally chartered in 1761.

Secession activists say the legality and economic rationale behind the plan are sound.

Vermont lawmakers have given the plan a lukewarm reception. They have said it is largely symbolic and probably will be voted down by the Legislature.

"The state is treating us like a cash cow," said David Lewis, the town manager.

Not everyone at the meeting was in favor of the plan, however.

"I was born and raised a Vermonter, and I hope to always be," said resident Julie Thomas, 38.

At the heart of the displeasure with Vermont is the state's new system of financing education, adopted in 1997 under order of the Supreme Court, which dramatically increased property taxes in communities, like Killington, deemed to be property wealthy.

Having won the endorsement of their constituents, town officials will now begin drafting a petition to present to New Hampshire Gov. Craig Benson and the state's Legislature.

After the meeting, Lewis said town officials want New Hampshire's approval before approaching Vermont's lawmakers -- who have the final say in whether the town can become part of the Granite State.

New Hampshire officials had declined to comment before Tuesday's vote. "We'll wait to see what the results of the vote are and we'll go from there," Wendell Packard, spokesman for New Hampshire Gov. Craig Benson, said last week.

 

[Starter Jackets Rule!]

A loud and harty gov Dean:
" YEEEEEEEEEAHHHHHHHhhahhhhhhhhh"!

 

[CP]

Ridiculous. (won't get into my Most Vermonters Hate Everyone rant b/c I don't want to step on any toes here)

 

[ChileMass]

Q: How many Vermonters does it take to change a lightbulb?

A: - Nine. One to put in the new bulb, and the other eight to sit around and complain about how much better the old one was.......

:wink: :wink: :wink:

 

[Tyrolean_skier]

If you were an out of state property owner like I am you might want to secede from Vermont as well. They are going to charge us commercial rate instead of residential rate (property taxes) this coming year. Also if we decide to sell the property we will be charged much more in sales tax than a Vermont resident. Now you might think that is fair but raising things so much makes me wonder whether or not I can afford to own a vacation home in Vermont anymore. :angry:

 

[severine]

Geez, and I thought Connecticut was bad on property taxes...
Good to know! I want to escape CT, but it looks like VT is not the place to go...

 

[skican]

I just bought a house in Solon, ME. I will be a regular Sugarloafer! I still love Cannon though and will miss the quick trip there I have enjoyed. I love that place! My house in Westford, MA goes on the market Monday! Anyone interested in a 2 family duplex on the water? Got 90 days to sell it and then I will be a Mainer! Glad I talked the husband out of VT.

 

[RossiSkier]

Killington's case to N.H.: Take our town, please!

http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050203/NEWS/502030400/1002

Is this the most ridiculous thing you ever read (over and over). Why won't they give up on this? It will never happen. What next, Las Vegas wants to part of Oregon?

It's a long drive to Killington for most. Those roads have a lot of upkeep costs. Does Killington think they can be part of New Hampshire while Vermonts maintains the yellow brick road right up to the access road?

I'm sure there are good and valid arguments by Killington residents about their taxes, but get real.

 

[ctenidae]

New York City missed seceding from the Union by 1 council member during the Civil War, so there is some precedence, I suppose.

I agree, this is a symbolic action, but I doubt it will be effective. The rest of VT won't want to give up their cash cow. You do have to wonder, though- could they get up the gumption to just stop sending their property taxes in? If an entire town did it, what could the state do? Lock them all up?

 

[thetrailboss]

Is this the most ridiculous thing you ever read (over and over)?.

YEP!!!! I'm getting sick of listening to all of the whining as well. :argue:

If it was not for the State of VT buying the mountain, building the road, thus starting Killington, there would be NO ski area to begin with!! Would that make them happy? No!

I'm sure there are good and valid arguments by Killington residents about their taxes, but get real.

Yes, they got off very well for many years...now they have to face what many other Vermonters, including my family, had to....HIGHER property taxes. I guess if you don't like it, sell and move. :wink:

 

[JimG.]

If you were an out of state property owner like I am you might want to secede from Vermont as well. They are going to charge us commercial rate instead of residential rate (property taxes) this coming year. Also if we decide to sell the property we will be charged much more in sales tax than a Vermont resident. Now you might think that is fair but raising things so much makes me wonder whether or not I can afford to own a vacation home in Vermont anymore. :angry:

Fair? Since when does that word go along with the word "taxes"? This is politics and the plan, while ridiculous, is pure genius. Of course they are going to slap the extra taxes on out of staters because there are no votes to lose there. And I doubt anyone will weep about you not being able to afford your vacation home anymore. Ha!

Do what I do in these situations and vote with your dollars! Sell the place in Vermont now and buy a place in NH! Better yet, buy a place out west.
The plan won't work too well if there are no out of state home owners to screw and, if accomplished en masse, will effectively castrate the whole idea.

Money talks loudest in this country...hit 'em where it hurts!

 

[tree_skier]

Yes, they got off very well for many years...now they have to face what many other Vermonters, including my family, had to....HIGHER property taxes. I guess if you don't like it, sell and move. :wink:[/quote]


Well the same could be said to you. If you don't like your high property taxes move.

I know I have griped about Act 60 (and it's successor) plenty but the nuts of the issue is my proper taxes in just a few years went up over $2500.00 along with the 4 cents a gallon gas tax and other assorted taxes then went with it and our school got raped. The programs were cut to bare minimums. Technology programs gone etc. When this was happening I did pester King Dean and Lord Shumlin quite extensively and thier response was "thing of the children". All I can see is this price my children paid for this expermint in socialism.

also if you think taxes are bad know wait untill they push through socialised medicine.