Somersworth voters to weigh in on tax cap
Residents of Somersworth who head to the polls on Nov. 6 will have a chance to vote on whether the city should enact a tax cap.
The first and only charter amendment on the Somersworth ballot asks voters whether the city should be required to limit any increase to its property tax to the increase in the National Consumer Price Index-Urban. Essentially, the cap would require the City Council to limit spending increases to the rate of inflation.
Under the proposal, the City Council would have the ability to override the spending cap with a two-thirds majority vote.
Somersworth residents voted down a similar proposal in 2008. Proponents petitioned to get a tax cap before voters again in 2009, but a pending court decision prevented the question from getting on the ballot. Proponents petitioned again this year and, this time, were successful.
Supporters say a tax cap would rein in city spending and keep property taxes down. But opponents say it’s unnecessary, would result in minimal savings, and could force the city to make significant cuts to its school budget.
The neighboring cities of Dover and Rochester both have tax caps in place.
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