News and Views » Public Documents

Voters in Bow have the opportunity to take another look at SB2. In the past SB2 has come very close to passing in Bow but the opposition to SB2 is very well financed and has been successful in peeling off enough voters by unfairly framing SB2 in a negative light. Anyone who is concerned with their property taxes knows that the Town/School Meeting form of government has failed them and failed them miserably. Bow property taxes have increased year after year, doubling, tripling, and even quadrupling for many hard working Bow Taxpayers.

SB2 is very popular and effective in many towns the size of Bow through out NH. In fact when given the choice to go back to the Town/School Meeting form of government there isn’t a single town with a population anywhere near Bow’s who has decided to go back to the inferior Town/School Meeting form of government. In fact this year a town near Bow voted almost 3 to 1 to keep SB2 and that tells you something. It is guaranteed during SB2 debate you will hear the scare tactics against SB2. So keep in mind that SB2 always gives you the option to go back to what we have now if we choose to. The real question is why wouldn’t Bow try SB2? What do we have to lose except maybe sky high tax bills.

SB Comparison Sheet

SB2 and Town Meeting Compared

Admin — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:21:14 +0000

This slide show has been updated and posted anew on April 24, 2009. Please look for it in the documents section.

Budget Committee Meeting 4-14-2009

Admin — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:27:36 +0000

Budget Committee Meeting Minutes – April 14, 2009

Bow FY10 Town Budget Warrant

Admin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:15:55 +0000

Bow FY10 Town Budget Warrant

Town and School Meeting Rules

Admin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 02:22:30 +0000

Here are the Town and School Moderator Rules and Voter Rights for both town and school meetings.

Documentation: Town and School Meeting Rules

SB2 Fact Sheet

Admin — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:47:12 +0000

SB2 Fact Sheet

More info on SB2…

Police Dispatch Fees Chart

Admin — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:41:17 +0000

February 11, 2008

PDF of Dispatch Fees [56KB]

County Taxes

Admin — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:01:17 +0000

Below is an email exchange with the new Merrimack County Sheriff, Scott Hilliard, with regards to long time concerns and questions I have regarding County dispatch services and charges.

Getting Merrimack County Dispatch charges for service in order will help get Bow Dispatch charges for services in line with costs of operations.

2007 Sheriff Dispatch budget = $499,758 with Dispatch Revenue fees (projected) = $153,297
2008 Sheriff Dispatch budget = $542,976 with Dispatch Revenue fees (projected) = $149,997
Budget Increase = $43,218 with projected revenues declining by $3300
Budget Increase = 8.7% with projected revenues declining by 2.2%

This is just one example which affects Bow taxpayers in 2 areas. This affects every taxpayer in Merrimack County.

We need to get more people involved in asking questions about the Merrimack County budgets as they are growing in size and waste & they affect your taxes.

The proposed Merrimack County Budget is up 11.3% over 2007. They all add up to higher property taxes, folks!!

2007 Budget = $64,210,637
2008 Proposed Budget = $71,449,878
Increase = $7,239,241 or +11.3%

Start calling your NH Representatives.

I hope the BCC web site picks up on this and starts to get taxpayers excited about these increases.

Rick Hiland