Our education system is in very poor shape, at least by the standards of neighboring states. The twenty some miles of New Hampshire highway I travel each day are literally crumbling, and have been for the two decades I've lived here. Mental health services are a joke and opioids are killing off our children, even in the smaller and more rural towns. We are progressive in a number of things, unless they cost money, and then we'll make only a token effort.

And as to our property taxes - this is the most regressive form of taxation, hurting lower income folks and seniors the most, possibly even more than a sales tax. I know I'm not a native, I guess twenty years doesn't make me a full citizen. But if it ever comes on the ballot again, I will gladly vote for a statewide income tax and support candidates who support it. I see the results of this property tax dependence in the falling down homes and code deficient rental units literally every day. Of course, since there aren't enough funds for senior programs, code enforcement, or even policing, it's not noticed as much as in more developed states.

We're not like resource-rich states like Alaska or North Dakota - our packies and our tourism taxes are among the limited options for raising revenue, especially from out of staters.

Andy

Dear Clifford,

Nobody likes to pay sales tax, but everyone must pay sales tax! B&H, and only B&H, has the solution to the sales tax issue.

Tomorrow, May 7th, B&H will be making a game-changing announcement, and as a loyal customer, I’d like you to be privy to some inside information in advance that will change your shopping experience forever.

Nearly one year ago, the Supreme Court ruled that out-of-state retailers must collect sales tax on internet sales. This, of course, included B&H. For 46 years we have been committed to providing unparalleled customer service, and so we began the tedious process of implementing a way to eliminate the impact this ruling would have on our customers.

We are now ready to launch “Payboo”, the solution to the sales-tax challenge. Tune in tomorrow for details on how to become a part of “Payboo”!

I know you have many shopping choices for creative gear and consumer electronics, but with “Payboo”, there will only be one best choice: B&H!

I look forward to a continued great business relationship and remember, at B&H, the customer always comes first. That’s why we’ve created “Payboo” to solve the sales tax impact for you.

Sincerely,

Menashe Horowitz
CEO

If you decide to apply for the B&H Payboo card make sure you read the agreement details. The way I read it, you are agreeing to pay a 29% rate on purchases that are "non-promotional" and that rate will be applied on the unpaid balance at the end of the billing cycle. BUT on "promotional" items the interest is charged FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. What that means (at least to me) is that anything you buy that is on sale at a reduced price will be subject to an interest charge that begins on the date of purchase. What that also means (to me)is that you will not be able to avoid paying at least a small amount of interest in the case of buying a "promotionally priced" item. I guess you will still come out ahead as long as you pay your full obligation Immediately after the charge shows up in your on line account statement. I would like to know if any of you who have read the fine print think I'm wrong about this.

I am from New Hampshire and I resent your remarks about "outrageous" property taxes and "lousy" services. Yes our property taxes are high mostly due to the school tax, however we must educate our children. As far as "lousy" services go I have no idea what you are speaking of. Perhaps because you come from Mass and expect the government to do everything for you. We in NH and me in particular believe that the government has a limited role in our lives. such as police and fire protection. We are pretty capable of doing the rest for ourselves.

Of course much of this is changing, a result of people who lived their lives in states like MA. RI, Conn and NY who retire sell their homes for outrageous amounts of money and move here buy a similar home for a lot less money then demand all those services you speak of, the result is the "outrageous" property taxes you mention.

I guess you will not be happy until enough of you move here and get an income and sales tax enacted...

Meanwhile NH along with Alaska have no income or sales tax... and we have a very healthy economy and a high quality of life...