The Statewide Education Property Tax (SWEPT) created in 1999, imposes a set percentage tax (by formula) on EVERY PROPERTY OWNER in the state. Cities and towns must collect that statewide tax IN ADDITION TO any local property tax. This levy was created by the two Claremont Decisions.
These revenues are not passed on to the state; instead the town keeps the funds and applies them to educational expenses. As originally passed, the SWEPT had a redistribution mechanism: Towns could keep only the portion of the money they raised that was necessary to meet the state’s definition of “adequate” funding per student. The town would need to transfer any extra amount collected, or excess, to the state’s Education Trust Fund, which would allow it to be distributed to less wealthy towns in the form of adequacy aid.
That arrangement changed in 2011 when Democratic Gov. John Lynch and a Republican legislature passed a bill repealing the part of the SWEPT law requiring redistribution.
In 2011, Governor Lynch and the State Legislature struck down redistribution.
Being uniform and proportionate to every property owner-by paying the same tax rate-squares SWEPT with NH’s Constitution…SENDING THE EXCESS MONEY TO OTHER TOWNS???
Well that is a different story….
Of course, after the last four years of a disastrous biden administration, with cost sky rocketing and the nations self esteem at an all time low, a bevy of law suits have been filed in NH Superior Courts.
Bottom Line is this, the state’s constitution is only concerned with the amount of money leaving the taxpayer’s pocket.
Our State Constitution does not speak to what happens to the “tax” once it leaves the taxpayer’s pocket!!!
And is it even a tax??? After all, SWEPT does not bring revenue to the state, so why are the courts allowing this to be challenged as an unconstitutional state tax.????
ohb, keeping it real…Off the record, on the QT and very hush-hush…you can be the judge…
