Killington, Vt., Town Manager David Lewis, left, accepts a New Hampshire flag from Mike Lorrey of Grantham, N.H., a member of the Libertarians Free State Project. (AP)
Posted on 03/03/2004 4:04:01 AM PST by billorites
KILLINGTON, Vt. — Nearly 2½ centuries after Killington was chartered by New Hampshire, residents of this ski resort town in the Green Mountains, which joined Vermont after the Revolutionary War, say they’re ready to come home.
At town meeting yesterday in Killington, most of the 300 voters in attendance raised their voices and affirmed they want to petition New Hampshire to become a municipality in the state across the Connecticut River.
Wary of sending more tax dollars to Montpelier and receiving what they consider little in return, many in the town of 1,100 saw the move as a last-ditch effort for equity that could save them as much as $10 million.
“New Hampshire, albeit that it’s not perfect, has a much better environment for a community such as ours,” Killington Town Manager David Lewis told residents at the start of the meeting. “Vermont officials believe that we really are just people who write checks to the state.”
At the root of the modern-day tax revolt is the 1997 Act 60 to fund public education. Under Act 60, property taxes have risen, and the town has tried several ways to gain relief over the years. Last fall, the Vermont Supreme Court overturned a lower court finding that the state’s tax methodology was unconstitutional.
With no other recourse, the board of selectmen “felt it was important to look outside the box and explore alternatives that are a little more radical,” Lewis said.
“Act 60 seeks to rob us,” said resident Robert Chernin. “Ultimately, this is the right thing to do. We’ve been failed by the legislature and failed by the judicial branch.”
Killington, Vt., Town Manager David Lewis, left, accepts a New Hampshire flag from Mike Lorrey of Grantham, N.H., a member of the Libertarians Free State Project. (AP) |
In the course of the discussion, residents conceded that the move might be a long shot, but resident Jim Blackman said other communities have always looked to Killington to “break ground.”
“I hope we all vote to go forward,” he said.
Another longtime resident was succinct in her support.
“We have to do what Yogi Berra said: When you come to a fork in the road, take it,” said Joan Wise.
One older resident said the continuing rise in taxes would force him to move out of town.
Another resident, retired after a career in political lobbying in New York, urged residents not to be complacent after the vote but to be ready to fight for what they believe. “Otherwise, it will look like this was something we voted on because we were mad,” she said.
Some supported the move, but with some hesitation. Tim Abraham noted that Vermont “takes care of children until they are 18” with a medical program. He also wondered whether New Hampshire has been able to reduce spousal abuse, as Vermont has done in recent years, and whether the Granite State has a well-baby program.
“I support what’s going on, but I look back on Vermont and say Vermont supports progressive ideas,” he said.
Five or six years ago, said Ed Fowler, a 35-year resident, his taxes were $2,200. He anticipates they will be $11,000 later this year.
But not all Killington residents were supportive.
“I was born and raised a Vermonter, and I hope to always be,” said Julie Thomas.
The town has spent about $10,000 so far in exploring rejoining New Hampshire. A line item in the next budget contains $20,000 to continue.
After the vote, there was a round of applause before voters continued the warrant. <
During a break, Mike Lorrey of Grantham, N.H., a member of the Libertarians’ Free State Project, presented a New Hampshire flag to Lewis, followed by a Gadsden flag, with its yellow background, picture of a snake and motto, “Don’t Tread on Me.”
The Free Staters were active in promoting the rejoining effort, said John Babiartz of Grafton, chairman of the Libertarian Party in New Hampshire and two-time gubernatorial candidate. He provided the New Hampshire flag presented yesterday. It has flown just once at his house, the day astronaut Alan Shepard, from Derry, died.
The next move, Lewis said, will be to work on a petition to present to the New Hampshire Legislature in the next session. Babiartz said New Hampshire Rep. Henry McElroy, R-Nashua, will sponsor the petition.
The town, Lewis said, needs to find out now whether New Hampshire would welcome Killington’s return. If it would, he said, the town would petition Vermont to let it go. If Vermont did not support secession, the town would take its case to the U.S. Congress.
“(New Hampshire) is the best place on the planet,” Babiartz said. “We welcome them with open arms.”
Awesome !!!
Bring 'em home.
Next thing you know, parts of Maine will want to join us.
Freedom works everytime it's tried.
Some of us Oregonians would like to have Portland secede and join San Francisco. D'ya think there's a chance?
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