Anti-tax agenda wins in Merrimack

[KBCraig]

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Anti-tax+wins+in+Merrimack&articleId=a827113e-36df-4f6d-8cc4-45dc46e5863b

Anti-tax wins in Merrimack

By SON HOANG
Union Leader Correspondent

Merrimack ? The anti-tax movement in town scored a big victory yesterday as voters elected nearly every candidate and passed every article endorsed by Merrimack Cares.

?I am so thankful for the voters. This shows that they?re ready for this change,? said Jennifer Thornton, co-founder of Merrimack Cares, a citizens? group seeking lower taxes in town.

?This is proof positive that if you?re tired with business as usual, you can go out and make a positive impact on Merrimack. This is a huge sweep for us,? said Bill Boyd, senior political consultant for Merrimack Cares.

In the highly contested race for two three-year selectman positions, Mike Malzone (2,733) and Betty Spence (2,838) beat out eight other candidates. The two positions were for seats previously held by Chairman Dick Hinch (1,969), who unsuccessfully ran for re-election, and Vice-Chairman Carolyn Whitlock, who chose not to seek reelection.

?I sincerely thank each and every voter that gave me the vote,? Malzone said. ?I want to thank my country for the opportunity to go out when I didn?t like what was going on in my town and doing something about it.?

Two three-year terms on the school board were won by Thornton (3,726) and Jody Vaillancourt (3,027). Vaillancourt was the only candidate in the major races not endorsed by Merrimack Cares who won a position. Merrimack Cares had endorsed Richard Barnes (2,561) for the seat.

The proposed town operating budget of $25.1 million passed, 3,974 to 2,424. The budget was originally proposed as $26.6 million, but was amended during the deliberative session by Merrimack Cares. If voted down, the higher default budget of $26.3 million would have been adopted.

Voters defeated, 4,638 to 1,932, an article that would have raised and appropriated $8.5 million for a new 32,000-square-foot library. The project would have been funded by a $5.6 million bond, $2.7 million from a capital reserve fund, $125,000 from library trustee funds and $75,000 from bond investments. The tax impact would have increased taxes by $5 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. Merrimack Cares had urged voters to defeat the article.

Voters also voted to discontinue the Library Construction Capital Reserve Fund and transfer its $2.5 million to the general fund to offset property taxes. The estimated tax impact for 2006 will be a decrease of zero to $106 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. The article was placed on the warrant by Merrimack Cares.

The $57.3 million school district operating budget was also passed, 4,547 to 1,798. The higher default budget of $57.8 million would have been adopted if the article failed.

A new town charter also passed, 3,660 to 2,551. The charter will establish a seven-member town council to replace the five-member board of selectmen.

Chris Ager (3,331), Rodney Buckley (3,051), Jack Rothman (2,862) and Merrimack Cares co-founder Jennifer Twardosky (4,257) were elected to three-year terms on the budget committee. The new charter approved by voters, however, eliminated the budget committee.

[Pat McCotter]

Town charter with council replacing selectmen. Fun times ahead for Merrimack.

Budget committee gone - oversight of council budget decisions by squeaky wheels.

A new town charter also passed.

Chris Ager, Rodney Buckley, Jack Rothman and Merrimack Cares co-founder Jennifer Twardosky were elected to three-year terms on the budget committee. The new charter approved by voters, however, eliminated the budget committee.