Appreciation goes to everyone who contributed thoughts and proposals regarding taxation in New Hampshire. What comes next? Share these comments with friends, candidates or elected leaders. Future messages on taxes sent to nancywestnews@gmail.com will be gathered for a Day 6 once sufficient responses arrive. Gratitude for the time taken to participate. Thanks, Nancy West

State House members can be located through official directories, along with state Senators, the Governor and Executive Council contacts.

Previous days covering opinions on New Hampshire taxes include Day 1 through Day 4, with Day 5 presented here.

DON BLASZKA SR., East Hampstead
Many New Hampshire residents may not realize the property tax levels paid elsewhere. Having relocated from New Jersey in 1985, a check on the former residence shows a 1,400-square-foot ranch on a small lot facing 2025 taxes of $9,300, rising 13.5 percent to $10,555. This equates to $7.50 per square foot, compared to $4 per square foot here on a larger home with 2.3 acres. New Jersey also relies on gambling, lotteries, marijuana sales and nearly 7 percent sales tax. When an income tax was added there, property taxes did not drop accordingly.

Property taxes often arrive in two big payments, while income taxes are withheld gradually and sales taxes accumulate unnoticed except on major buys. Surrounded by states with sales taxes, introducing one here could reduce business activity and related state revenue if neighboring residents shop elsewhere.

Several solutions deserve consideration, even if some face resistance. Counties elsewhere match New Hampshire population yet operate single school, police, fire and road systems, potentially cutting administrative overhead if applied statewide. Funding schools at $10,000 to $15,000 per student through a uniform statewide property tax rate, with proceeds redistributed by enrollment, offers another path. Restoring prior business tax rates and adjusting education account eligibility could help, along with higher property taxes on non-resident second homes similar to Vermont practices, directing half the revenue to schools.

PHILLIP JAMES WALKER, Dunbarton
Reforming the tax system addresses interconnected issues of high property taxes, underperforming schools and housing costs. A fair statewide property tax with protections, paired with reinstating elements of the interest and dividends tax, provides balance. Current disparities arise because some towns hold strong tax bases with few students while others face the opposite, leading to uneven school funding and housing shortages as new developments struggle to cover costs.

A statewide approach with primary residence exemptions up to $100,000, plus relief for seniors, disabled individuals and veterans, would ease burdens. Surcharges on high-value second homes and incentives for workforce housing construction could further improve equity and encourage building. Reintroducing taxation on interest and dividends would also capture wealth held outside real estate, promoting overall fairness.

PATTY SHEARIN, Dunbarton
The property tax model for education funding proves unsustainable for those on fixed incomes, risking displacement for seniors unable to meet rising bills. A sales tax on non-essential items, excluding food and medications, would distribute costs according to consumption levels without adding an income tax.

LAURA COLQUHOUN, Nashua
Taxes in Nashua have climbed beyond sustainable levels for fixed-income residents, with a modest home now costing around $7,500 annually. Declining safety, visible homelessness and inconsistent enforcement of rules contribute to reduced quality of life. Limited access to city services and unresponsive local government further erode community trust, leaving long-term residents feeling overlooked.

JEFFREY HINMAN
Absence of sales and income taxes no longer serves as an advantage, shifting heavy loads onto property owners and creating uneven education funding. Reliance on gambling and alcohol revenue echoes outdated dependencies, falling short of broader fiscal stability.

SHIRLEY LEMIEUX
Property taxes remain a frequent complaint due to their high levels and heavy role in education funding, even as the state collects substantial gambling revenue each year.