This marks Day 2 of reader perspectives on taxation in New Hampshire. Responses continue to pour in after our call for input on the state's tax landscape. Expect at least two more days of features. Your insights are valued - this remains a key discussion. Nancy West. Keep submissions coming to nancywestnews@gmail.com

Phil Sletten from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute noted in a connected report on taxes, excluding local property levies: "The State depends significantly on federal aid, like other states, plus business taxes, levies on restaurant meals and hotel stays, statewide property taxes for education, cigarette taxes, liquor sales, lottery proceeds, real estate transfer taxes, and various minor taxes and fees. Recent business tax rate cuts, elimination of the interest and dividends tax, and tweaks to other revenues influence available funds."

BILL CANTLIN
A broad-based property tax is overdue.
BILL CANTLIN

JIM CRAWFORD
New Hampshire's General Court - encompassing House, Senate, Executive Council, and Governor - has strayed from ethical grounding. Consider: What justifies government? 1) National security. 2) Order amid chaos. 3) Aid via public services.
Services demand funding through taxes. Soon, New Hampshire risks bare-bones offerings and depleted coffers.
JIM CRAWFORD, Mason, NH

DON JUTTON
Taxes ought to hinge on annual gross income, earned or unearned - a straightforward percentage exempting the first $100,000, scaling with earnings, and minimizing deductions or loopholes.
DON JUTTON

JAMES GERRAUGHTY
Our governor and lawmakers have botched it badly! New Hampshire's true tax burdens rank high nationally. Lacking a wide-reaching option, desperation has us taxing Medicaid users!
Property taxes push owners and renters toward homelessness.
Schools lag in performance!
Local roads match Boston's potholes!
Vital services vanish!
Businesses shutter!
JAMES GERRAUGHTY

ROBBIE MAHROU
Your tax opinion request caught my eye, so let me introduce myself. I'm running independently for NH-02 (livefreenh02.com). My platform launched this weekend, and I'm growing my online presence. To your point:
Take one earned dollar. How often is it taxed?

Earn it: income tax + payroll tax. Spend it: sales tax + excise tax. Buy a home or car: property tax + registration fees. Die: estate tax.

That's three to five bites from the same dollar - often more. Typical workers retain 50 to 65 cents per dollar earned. Governments at every level claim the rest, each with their rationale.

Respectfully, do the math and name it plainly. This leads to New Hampshire, where debating a state income tax is intolerable.

New Hampshire isn't bankrupt - it's overlooked. Farms, forests, small factories, local food systems - 93% of farms lose money or earn under $50K yearly, despite importing 97% of food. Address processing hurdles. Cut energy expenses. Resources exist for balanced operations. Smart infrastructure and policies are key, yet politics overshadows them.

That's my brief take. Eager to discuss further stories. Have a great weekend.
ROBBIE MAHROU
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE, NH-02

DAN LEVASSEUR
InDepth's writing impresses me, though it leans heavily Democratic.
The feedback: New Hampshire's tax setup suits our scale and incomes well. Fears of broad taxes like income or sales stem from easy hikes that boost spending and spur outflows to low-tax neighbors.

Connecticut's 1991 income tax offers a lesson. I admire your work and had to reply.
DAN LEVASSEUR

COREY MARTZALL
No issue with no income tax, but a modest sales tax might ease sky-high property taxes. We have gas taxes already...

Live free or die stays intact - you control purchases, untaxed earnings, unlike subjective property taxes hitting lower-income zones hardest. Sales tax would tap out-of-staters enjoying our assets. They're eyeing toll hikes too.
COREY MARTZALL

BILL COTE
Taxes are inherently unequal due to structures and loopholes. New Hampshire shouldn't boast "tax free" - it's misleading. Property taxes regressively burden low-income big-property holders. InDepth's recent statewide data exposed disparities. Without fair taxation, housing shortages persist, land sells to developers, northern flight accelerates (as southern areas draw wealthy migrants). Enough said.
BILL COTE, Durham, NH

PHILIP DALEY
Town taxes soar because state school aid falls short.
State must fund schools more robustly.
PHILIP DALEY, Hillsboro, NH

PATRICIA HUNT
You reap what you fund. Insufficient revenue means subpar schools, roads, bridges, environment, police, fire, infrastructure, parks, health care, etc. Taxes must cover these adequately and progressively - more from those with more. Radical free-staters dominating the legislature shift burdens to local property taxes unfairly. Prefer higher state taxes for top living standards.
PATRICIA HUNT, Franconia

NICK MIKE
Compared to other states, New Hampshire's tolerable - thanks to Republican spending restraint versus blue-state waste and tax grabs.
NICK MIKE

MARY AHLGREN, Sanbornton
New Hampshire's income tax phobia and property tax dependence is ridiculous. Essential community services deserve funding we're glad to provide. A just income tax achieves that, easing loads on lower earners. Check Andru Volinsky's plan and calculator for your scenario under fair taxation!
MARY AHLGREN, Sanbornton

Rep. LUCIUS PARSHALL
Apologies for length. I listen more than speak, but with a Republican response already, balance calls. Two quick points:

Glad constituents replied to your tax query. Many in my district see property tax inequities. Concord Republicans chant "Taxation is theft" like slot-machine gamblers awaiting "AFP."

I taught public schools 20 years - am I complicit? Police too? Librarians, road crews? Fiscal woes arise as Republicans miss connections, blaming phantom Democrats despite long control.
Rep. LUCIUS PARSHALL, D-Marlborough

TOBY TOUSLEY, Keene
Keene lifelong resident, paying property taxes since 1981. Citizens owe for schools, roads, safety, amenities of society. Decades show: All demand them, none want to fund - expecting others to.

Politicians blame the State. But who's the State? No endless Concord goldmine. Taxes pay bills regardless of level. Reshuffling won't erase costs.

Keene overspends - schools too. Not anti-public ed: Family legacy in teaching, kids schooled publicly.

Keene's enrollment dropped sharply in 40 years, yet facilities and staff ballooned. SAU worse. Taxes follow. Support charters, EFAs - prioritize low-income families.

Eliminating interest/dividends tax for all was shortsighted; raise exemptions instead. Oppose broad taxes. Keene would just spend any property relief.

Favor statewide property tax balancing - donor towns or not. Simplest fairness fix. Bill remains.

Friend paid $38 rate in Alstead, $11 in Center Harbor. Senseless?

Volinsky's 3-3 flops. His calculator flatters all inputs - even extremes. If everyone saves, where's revenue?
TOBY TOUSLEY, Keene

KATIE DELAHAYE PAINE
One chance in my life for fair taxes: Income bill passed both chambers, vetoed by Gov. Shaheen. Property taxes rose yearly since, now 5x 2000 levels at $67,210 annually. Soon only ultra-wealthy, renters, immobile stay. No easy fix, but young families flee unaffordable homes/taxes.
KATIE DELAHAYE PAINE
CEO, Paine Publishing, LLC