On Oct. 1, the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) made an announcement that created chaos in municipal tax collectors’ offices across the state. After legislative pressure was brought to bear on both the Department of Education and the Department of Revenue Administration, accommodations were made that were more in line with what normally happens at tax-setting time.
The Oct. 1 DRA Technical Information Release in part stated: “Senate Bill 401 revised the calculation of state adequacy aid pursuant to RSA 198:38 and requires the Department of Education (DOE) to utilize the average daily membership in attendance data (ADMA) from the school year immediately preceding the year for which aid is determined (e.g., ADMA from the 2012-2013 school year will be used to determine aid for the 2013-2014 school year). Prior to Senate Bill 401, adequacy aid was determined with the second year preceding the year for which aid is determined.
“As a result of the change in the law,” the release stated, “the DOE will not be able to finalize 2012-2013 ADMA calculations and state adequacy aid until Nov. 7, 2013.”
The resulting delay in setting tax rates could put some municipalities in financial difficulties, leaving them without sufficient funds to meet their financial obligations and forcing some to borrow funds to meet those obligations, as revenues would not be available in time.
Hampstead’s Town Clerk/ Tax Collector Patricia Curran said that should the DRA stand behind its delayed tax-setting date, it would require moving the Dec. 1 tax due date.
“After the DRA and the Board of Selectmen set the rate for the town, there is a two to four day waiting period for confirmation of the rate,” she explained. “Once we in the Tax Collector’s Office receive the confirmation, on the advice of the DRA, we wait another five business days before the warrant is processed. As soon as I receive the signed warrant from the (selectmen), we start processing immediately. It takes us two days to process, print and to prepare tax bills for mailing. The bills are due 30 days from the date the bills go into the mail.”
Legislators around the state received frantic calls from municipal officials and pressure was brought to bear on the Department of Education and the DRA. The result was that on Thursday, Oct. 3, a second Technical Information Release was issued by DRA, saying that in response to the concerns raised by state and municipal officials regarding the proposed delay, officials from the DRA and DOE met and the DOE said a revised estimate of state adequacy aid could be made in “the very near future…Based on the DOE’s ability to provide the DRA with a reasonably accurate set of revised estimates by Oct. 11, the DRA anticipates setting municipal tax rates in October.
“Last year, the first rates were set on Oct. 19, and it is likely to begin this year on Oct. 22,” the DRA release states. “It is now the DRA’s determination that the finalization of municipal tax rates can proceed with minimal delay while also providing for accurate tax rates.”
Town Announces Flushing of Water Lines Starting Oct. 13
The Town of Derry will be flushing water lines through its Municipal Water Distribution System from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, and Friday, Oct. 25.
The core water system flushing is being conducted in late evenings to minimize inconvenience to business customers.
The Scobie Pond area up to and including By-Pass 28, Daniel, Debbie, Datillo and Eastgate roads, Olde Country Estates and Linlew Drive will be flushed from 9 p.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, through Friday, Nov. 1.
The Montgomery Farm area off Overlook Drive, including Fordway Extension, Beacon Hill Road and Settlers Lane, will be flushed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, through Friday, Nov. 1.
The area off Pond Road, including East Derry Road east of Pond Road, Hampstead Road, Adams Pond Road and the Meadowbrook community water system will be flushed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, through Friday, Nov. 8.
The work is necessary to remove sediment from the water lines and is typically conducted annually by Derry Water Division employees.
The flushing program typically progresses from the Derry-Londonderry town line along Route 28 south and east across town. Heavy commercial users will be notified by the Town prior to work being done in their area. Any residential customers with special needs, such as in-house dialysis, should contact the Derry Department of Public Works to make their locations known so they can be notified in advance.
The flushing may result in periods of brown or rusty water. It is not a health concern, but it may affect the taste and appearance of drinking water, and may stain laundry. Public Works officials say every effort is made to flush the main lines until they run clean, but customers should run their lines for several minutes until the water is clear before they do laundry.
For questions, call 432-6144.
