Senate Republicans Continue Desperate Attempts to Claim Democratic Property Tax Relief Policy
April 13, 2022
Contact Name: Marina Altschiller
Phone: (603) 271-3375
CONCORD – Today, Senator Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) introduced an amendment to HB 1221 which lifts both the title and general policy from the late Representative Renny Cushing’s (D-Hampton) Property Tax Relief Act of 2022. However, the Bradley amendment, which never received a public hearing, sunsets after a year, leaving property taxpayers to foot a nearly $28 million increase in the following year.
After the executive session, Senator Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua) and Senator Lou D’Allesandro (D-Manchester) issued the following statements:
Senator Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua) stated, “Last year, I presented SB 72, the Taxpayer Rescue Act of 2021 to ensure the state made good on its promise to our cities and towns by paying a portion of retirement system contributions, which would have represented meaningful and sustained relief to local property taxpayers. Republicans rejected the legislation and then rejected the policy again when I presented it as a floor amendment during the budget process. Their claim that this amendment, which only pays the contribution for one year, will make any positive impact on property taxpayers is false and irresponsible. If by some small chance cities and towns actually saw this money, there is no guarantee it goes to property tax relief and the one-year duration means that taxes would go right back up after the term. This is a fiscally irresponsible maneuver driven by political expediency.”
Senator Lou D’Allesandro (D-Manchester) added, “Earlier today, Senate ED&A heard public testimony on HB 1417, a bill from Representative Cushing that represents a real, positive effect on long-term property tax relief. Aptly titled The Property Tax Relief Act of 2022, HB 1417 represents the ideas that Democrats have been promoting for years. Today’s slapdash effort by Senate Republicans was not only a weaker version of the good work done by Representative Cushing, but an abdication of the democratic process in the name of political gain.”