10 hours Ago
FOR TOO LONG, New Hampshire homeowners have been held hostage by runaway property taxes driven by out-of-control local school and municipal budgets. Hardworking families who play by the rules, work hard, pay their taxes, and contribute to their communities should not be forced to bankroll unchecked spending by local officials. That is why the Republican Legislature is delivering real property tax relief through HB 675 , a powerful tool that puts spending control back where it belongs: in the hands of taxpayers.
The Legislature recognizes the importance of empowering local control, which is why we passed this bill through the House. Like mindless zombies from a horror movie, Democrats ceaselessly utter their favorite phrase: “Republicans are raising property taxes.” They think if they say it enough times, people will believe it, but here’s the truth: The state Legislature does not set local property tax rates.
What we can do — and what we are doing — is to draw a line in the sand, limiting excessive local spending and preventing property taxes from spiraling further out of control. Predictably, Democrats who disingenuously claim they want lower property taxes actually voted against HB 675. HB 675 — or as we call it, the “Property Tax Relief Act” — halts this cycle.
It pressures school budgets to stay within responsible limits, discouraging the never-ending tax hikes that make it harder for families to afford their homes. With the Property Tax Relief Act in place, local school budgets will be challenged to exercise fiscal discipline, ensuring that future generations don’t have to bear the burden of today’s overspending. We are spending more and more on education that’s delivering worse and worse proficiencies.
This bill will recalibrate spending into the classroom to use money efficiently — directed at students first and foremost. Opponents of HB 675 claim it ties the hands of school districts. Nothing could be further from the truth.
If a school district genuinely needs more money, voters will still always have the final say. But instead of a small group of activists ramming through bloated budgets at sparsely attended town meetings and deliberative sessions, HB 675 ensures that any spending increase must have more broad public support by a supermajority vote of those who participate. This guarantees that necessary spending gets approved — but will discourage the unneeded costs driven by a vocal minority of tax-and-spend special interests.
A common complaint I hear from constituents is the unpredictability of their property tax bills. One year it’s a small increase, the next year it’s a massive jump. Homeowners and renters deserve stability.
By hampering unnecessary school budget increases, the Tax Relief Act provides predictability, making it easier for families to budget for their future. Not only homeowners benefit, renters do too, because when property taxes rise, housing providers pass those costs on through higher rents. Keeping local spending under control helps ensure New Hampshire remains an affordable place to live.
Without limits, school districts will always spend up to the maximum allowed — and then some. The result? A steady, compounding increase in property taxes year after year. By establishing a higher standard for spending, it prevents stealth tax hikes that gradually bleed taxpayers dry.
Small tax increases may not seem like much at first, but they add up. This bill dissuades local governments from automatically raising spending without accountability. Some critics say the Property Tax Relief Act will stop schools from handling emergencies, but that’s simply not true.
The bill allows emergency funding when needed, so schools can deal with unexpected issues, but prevents frivolous spending on political projects. HB 675 is not about cutting public education; it’s about making education funding responsible. It makes sure every dollar benefits students while protecting taxpayers from constant, special interest-driven budget hikes.
Democrats will continue their misleading attacks, but the facts remain: The Property Tax Relief Act empowers voters, controls runaway spending, and will put downward pressure on property taxes. No longer will a small but vocal group dictate ever-escalating school budgets, leaving the average taxpayer to foot the bill. House Republicans in the Legislature are empowering taxpayers, giving them the means to reclaim control over their property taxes.
HB 675 is a win for fiscal freedom, local autonomy, and, above all, the hardworking families of New Hampshire..
