Republicans Pass Bill that Downshifts to Local Property Taxes
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Representative Susan Almy, House Democratic Policy Leader on Ways & Means Committee and Representative Christine Hamm, who serves on the Ways & Means Committee, issued the following statements on HB 1607, which establishes an education credit against the business profits tax.
“This bill would implement a tax credit for businesses offering scholarships to students attending private schools. The program extracts money from New Hampshire’s public schools in favor of funding private, religious and home schools, thus costing the state and school districts important and sparse revenues now used towards public education,” stated Representative Christine Hamm.
“In addition, by allowing state money to fund private and religious schools, this legislation is a violation of the New Hampshire constitution,” said Representative Susan Almy. “This will open the door for expensive litigation that will ultimately be paid for by taxpayers – an additional downshift. New Hampshire businesses are more concerned with the state’s commitment to a quality education for our students and high property taxes. This bill does the opposite.”
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