I wish them luck, but quite a distance from the 100A HIGHWAY marking Killington to the grey line marking the state border, isn't it?
Posted on 03/06/2004 7:30:55 PM PST by Capitalism2003
High taxes push town to secede from Vermont
Libertarian activists in Vermont and New Hampshire cheered the decision made by residents of Killington, a Vermont town of about 1,000, who voted March 2 to secede from the state and join New Hampshire.
Contributing to the Killington argument and supporting the decision were New Hampshire state Libertarian Party chair John Babiarz, representatives of the Vermont LP, and several activists in the Free State Project -- which recently began trying to convince 20,000 freedom-minded people to move to New Hampshire as a first step in creating a more libertarian state government there.
But residents of Killington, which is about 25 miles from the state line, don't want to move to New Hampshire; they want New Hampshire to come to them.
The decision to secede came in response to high property taxes Vermont has foisted on Killington. Under the state's system of financing education, property taxes in property-rich communities like Killington have dramatically increased since 1997.
Some who lobbied in favor of secession say businesses and private property owners in the ski resort town send up to $20 million a year to Montpelier -- the state capital -- in sales, property and other taxes, with the state returning only about $850,000 in education and other municipal services.
By contrast, New Hampshire has no income tax or sales tax, making it particularly attractive to the over-taxed Vermonters.
While the secessionist residents of Killington aren't necessarily Libertarians, they are certainly libertarian in some ways, Babiarz said.
"These are the regular people in the town," he said. "They're not hardcore libertarian activists. But they obviously believe in smaller government and this is a great chance to encourage people who believe -- as we do -- that smaller government is better.
"There is a legislator in New Hampshire who is going to sponsor their proposal to become part of this state. In New Hampshire, we can appreciate secession. It's part of the New Hampshire spirit."
Case in point: In 1774, before the revolts against the British in Lexington and Concord which are credited with beginning the Revolutionary War, "citizens in Exeter, New Hampshire, pointed a cannon at the British governor and sent him packing," Babiarz said.
Killington was originally chartered in New Hampshire in 1761. In 1777, Vermont -- including Killington -- declared its independence from New York and New Hampshire, states that both had claims to the territory.
Secession and fighting against unreasonable taxes are a throwback to those colonial times, said some at the town meeting.
At a cost of $20,000, the town brought in a consultant last fall to study the situation and "found that by being in New Hampshire they would save a great deal of money, to the tune of about $10 million," Babiarz said.
"I spoke to one gentleman who said property taxes on his home have gone up from $2,200 six years ago to $11,000. Their taxes are way, way too high and they don't think they're getting much back for it."
"The state is treating us like a cash-cow," said town manager David Lewis.
Killington challenged parts of the tax law in state Superior Court and in 2002 a judge ruled in favor of the town. But the state Supreme Court overturned the ruling in October, 2003, forcing residents to take what they feel is the only reasonable next step.
"That was the last nail in the coffin," Lewis said, noting that secession makes economic good sense, and that research has shown the move is perfectly legal.
Legal or not, the town's residents don't get to make the final decision. New Hampshire will first be approached to see if that state will accept Killington. Then the Vermont legislature and governor would have to approve the move. Town leaders acknowledged that Vermont is unlikely to set them free without a fight.
Babiarz said he doesn't expect any difficulty getting the New Hampshire legislature to approve the move: "There's really nothing negative about the idea."
The problem, he said, "is going to be in Vermont. I don't know if Killington is going to be able to convince Vermont's legislators and governor to let them go. But the town selectmen have vowed to go to Congress, which is the final arbitrator of property disputes."
"We're hoping to enlist three or four other towns that would make a nice corridor to the New Hampshire boarder," said head selectman Walter Findeisen. "This is for real."
Time for a Tea Party!
I'm glad to see this and want to see more of it. These blood suckers need to be put in their place. And you're right, concernedaboutpolitics. It is a 50-50 situation. 50% of us work and the other 50% vote for a living.
Green Mountain Boys, ping!
It is likely that the State sees this town as a cash cow since a lot of very well-to-do people swell the population numbers in the winter. Though I don't see how the State can single out a certain town and assess a higher tax rate on anything.
Anyone ever been to the Wobbly Barn down the hill from The Inn of the Six Mountains? That place rocks on Saturday nights.
I do as well, of course the liberal media won't let this get out, but if more people know about it then more people will get brave enough to taking a long look at the government, and so on, and so on, and so on. Get the drift!
You are bringing back memories form my misspent youth! Yes The Barn does rock, gosh it has been at 10 years since I have been if not more.
I used to live in Western Mass. and watched the Intelligentsia Liberals from NY and CT driving there Beemers up route 91 on Friday Afternoons and Saturday Mornings occasionally stopping for fuel in Western MA.
I have a pet theory that is these folks that have transformed Vermont in to a Quasi-Socialist Paradise that it is for folks with this mindset. They brought there NY Times with them and changed the culture.
I remember the Wobbly Barn and some other place called "The ______ Pickle" or maybe just "The Pickle". I don't recall clearly. All I remember is that after the second weekend spent there we were calling it "The Wobbly Pickle". Such was our level of inebriation.
Your principles are sound, however, the bloodsucking politicians wouldn't be there in the first place if the sheeple didn't elect them.
All the politicians have to do is say: "Elect me and I'll give you some gubmint money," (socialism) and they are a shoo-in for the non-thinking voter.
Happens all over, especially the "blue" states.
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