Posted by Dennis Herrick on August 17, 2008 at 10:55:52:
Candidate for state rep. says he'll say no to taxes
Aug. 7 — To the Editor of the Portsmouth Herald:
I read, with interest, a letter sent from City Manager John Bohenko to Speaker of the House Ms. Terie Norelli, in which Mr. Bohenko expressed his grave concern that recent legislation from Concord would have a "potentially devastating financial impact" on the city of Portsmouth, and "could bankrupt municipalities" throughout New Hampshire.
This legislation, originally HB 1645 and now law, would require, in an example that Mr. Bohenko puts forth, that the City of Portsmouth would be required to give the State of New Hampshire $541,000 upon the retirement of a single firefighter. Mr. Bohenko goes on to state that with "60 firefighters, 70 police officers, 197 city employees, and 289 teachers whose pensions fall under this formula" he "cannot even begin to estimate the financial impact on Portsmouth taxpayers."
Hear, hear, Mr. Bohenko! In addition to that, with an incredible 17 percent increase in the overall state budget, with 30 percent pay raises for some state employees, and with the recent approval by our legislators to float bonds to make up for their overspending, rumors become virtual certainty that all this will lead to having a state sales tax or state income tax, or both, shoved down our throats.
I have to think that it is time to put representatives in Concord who will protect New Hampshire taxpayers' pocketbooks, and curb the out-of-control spending plans of our current legislators. For this reason, I am running for state representative for Portsmouth and Newington, and I say, "No to overspending! No to a state sales tax! No to a state income tax!"
Jack Thorsen
Portsmouth