Tired of taxes, Vermont ski town considers joining New Hampshire

[Judi Lynn]

Posted 1/9/2004 9:43 AM Updated 1/9/2004 9:50 AM



Tired of taxes, Vermont ski town considers joining New Hampshire
KILLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Officials in the popular ski resort area of Killington want the town to secede from Vermont and join neighboring New Hampshire in a dispute over taxes.

They say the town's restaurants, inns and other businesses send $10 million a year to the state capital in sales, room and meal taxes, but the state returns just $1 million in state aid to Killington.

Even more galling to the town is a statewide property tax imposed in 1997 to fund schools. The town of 1,092 won a Superior Court order that called the state's method of assessing local properties "arbitrary and capricious," but the state Supreme Court reversed that decision.

"It kind of reminds us of Colonial days," Town Manager David Lewis said Thursday. "The Colonies were being faced with the Stamp Act, the Tea Act, the Sugar Act. England wasn't giving them any rights. They were treating the Colonies as just a revenue source."
(snip/...)

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-01-09-vermont-town_x.htm

[9119495]

1. Yes, if Bush wins, my house will become Canada.

What a bunch of dumb asses. Don't like the system? Move or set up shop elsewhere. Or, how about make a campaign, convince voters these taxes are bad, get reps elected, convince the governor, and repeal the taxes...oh but that would be using the democratic process, for shame.

[mw]

2. Bunch of rich republicans shilling for Bush - anti-Dean

Probably rich people--we're talking a ski resort area here--who are trying to make a dirty point.

Bastards.

[Chico Man]

3. Exactly. Killington is loaded with cash.

Who are they trying to kid?

[mouse7]

4. Greedy rich in posh ski resort whine, film at 11

I'll bet the same people in that town would yell even louder if someone tried to drop the massive property values in Killington to Vermont state per acre averages.

Land in Killington is VERY valuable. The Greedy Rich in Killington don't mention THAT fact.

[MaineDem]

5. Killington and NH aren't contiguous

This will never work.

Interesting though. :)

[bicentennial_baby]

6. Exactly my thought

Bizarre.