| At the March 13 election, voters face a shopping list of warrant articles, with the most important one being Article 14 on tax exemptions for business.
Most of the articles deal with adding money to capital reserve funds. Even though they all say "This article will not affect the tax rate," they do because the money comes from your unspent tax money for last year, which is cleverly called "the unassigned fund balance."
This is money that was budgeted, collected from you all in taxes but not spent, which is a good thing. If that money was not put into the funds, it would have to go toward reducing the next year's taxes.
VOTER'S GUIDE
The town budget did not pass but all the articles did.
Article 1 – Choose Town Officers
To choose all necessary Town Officers for the ensuing year as follows.
See the list of town candidates.
Commentary: This actually happens on Election Day.
Recommendation: Yes, vote on March 13th.
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Article 2 – Zoning Amendments
| Votes: |
YES: |
|
NO: |
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PASSED/FAILED |
Commentary: The zoning amendments were withdrawn.
Recommendation: None
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Article 3 – Town Budget
| Votes: |
YES: |
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NO: |
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PASSED/FAILED |
For details, see the Town Voters' Guide.
Commentary: The proposed town budget is $4,003,181.
The default budget is $3,962,560, which is about $38,000 (1%) more than the 2017 budget ($3,924,683).
By voting No, you approve the lower default budget of $3,962,560 and save almost $41,000.
Recommendation: No
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Article 4 – Sewer Dept. Budget
| Votes: |
YES: |
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NO: |
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PASSED/FAILED |
For details, see the Town Voters' Guide.
Commentary: You should vote for the proposed sewer dept. budget, since it is less than the default, and the income from hauled waste is keeping the sewer rate at $7.57/1,000 gal.
Recommendation: Yes
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Article 5 – Fire Safety Equipment Capital Reserve Fund
| Votes: |
YES: |
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NO: |
|
PASSED/FAILED |
For details, see the Town Voters' Guide.
Commentary: $10,000 is to be added. This is money that was collected in taxes but not spent. It is to be used to purchase very expensive Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for fire fighters.
Recommendation: Yes
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Article 6 – Library Capital Reserve Fund
| Votes: |
YES: |
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NO: |
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PASSED/FAILED |
For details, see the Town Voters' Guide.
Commentary: $6,817 is to be added. This is money that was collected in taxes but not spent. It is to be used for construction and maintenance issues.
Recommendation: Yes
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Article 7 – Public Safety Facilities Capital Reserve Fund
| Votes: |
YES: |
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NO: |
|
PASSED/FAILED |
For details, see the Town Voters' Guide.
Commentary: $50,000 is to be added. This is money that was collected in taxes but not spent. It is to be used for the repair and renovation of the police and fire department facilities, first for repairing cracks in the fire station foundation.
Recommendation: Yes
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Article 8 – Streetlight Capital Reserve Fund
| Votes: |
YES: |
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NO: |
|
PASSED/FAILED |
For details, see the Town Voters' Guide.
Commentary: $6,500 is to be added. This is money that was collected in taxes but not spent. It is a new fund to be used for repairs to town street lights.
Recommendation: Yes
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Article 9 – Landfill Capital Reserve Fund
| Votes: |
YES: |
|
NO: |
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PASSED/FAILED |
For details, see the Town Voters' Guide.
Commentary: $6,750 is to be added. This is money that was collected in taxes but not spent. It is to be used for annual water quality testing at the town landfill.
Recommendation: Yes
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Article 10 – Discontinue Recycling Capital Reserve Fund
| Votes: |
YES: |
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NO: |
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PASSED/FAILED |
For details, see the Town Voters' Guide.
Commentary: This fund is no longer needed. About $21,000 will go back into the general fund.
Recommendation: Yes
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Article 11 – Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund
| Votes: |
YES: |
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NO: |
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PASSED/FAILED |
For details, see the Town Voters' Guide.
Commentary: $21,000 is to be added. This is money that was collected in taxes but not spent. It is to be used to purchase vehicles and equipment for the Highway Dept.
Recommendation: Yes
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Article 12 – Discontinue Recycling Revolving Capital Reserve Fund
| Votes: |
YES: |
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NO: |
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PASSED/FAILED |
For details, see the Town Voters' Guide.
Commentary: About $21,500 from recycled materials will go into the general fund.
Recommendation: Yes
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Article 13 – Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund
| Votes: |
YES: |
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NO: |
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PASSED/FAILED |
For details, see the Town Voters' Guide.
Commentary: $22,000 is to be added. This is money that was collected in taxes but not spent. The funds are to come from the Revolving Recycling Fund (Article 12). It is to be used to purchase vehicles and equipment for the Highway Dept.
Recommendation: Yes
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Article 14 – Economic Development Tax Exemptions
| Votes: |
YES: |
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NO: |
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PASSED/FAILED |
For details, see the Town Voters' Guide.
Commentary: The purpose of this article is to give businesses a strong, compelling reason to either begin a new business in Allenstown or expand an existing Allenstown business. More businesses mean more tax revenue from those businesses and potentially lower taxes for residents.
At the current tax rate just over $32/$1,000, Allenstown is surrounded by towns with rates under $30/$1,000. So why would a business come here?
Answer: The tax exemption schedule starts at $16/$1,000 for the first two years, so a savvy business owner will jump at that opportunity.
Business owners, study this tax exemption graphic to see your tax savings under the exemption plan compared to paying the full rate.
Recommendation: Yes, for the good of Allenstown.
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