By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

The town of Hooksett, like many southern New Hampshire towns, has recently experienced considerable growth. And for many residents, that growth has been reflected in climbing tax bills.

The town's taxpayers just received June's tax bill. Yet as expenditures for the 2005 year have continued to rise, the real hurt may come with December's bill.

The December bill is "retroactive," said Hooksett Town Clerk Leslie Nepveu, meaning it will reflect "the new rate and value for the entire year."

Both Nepveu and Hooksett Town Administrator Moni Sharma said it's still way too early to project December's tax bill, and said the town would have a much better idea of the actual impact by the end of September or early October.

"Until then, we are working with very soft numbers," said Sharma.

Hooksett's 2003 property tax rate was $18.21 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. That year, an owner of a $200,000 house was forced to pay $3,642 in property taxes. In 2004, the rate jumped to $22, as reflected in the June tax bill. Thus the same owner paid $4,400 the following year in property tax.

While a number of issues will determine the 2005 rate, town and school projected expenditures have recently risen.

In the May vote, residents approved the town's operating budget of $13,479,837, which is more than $1 million more than allotted in 2004's default budget.

Voters approved other town expenditures in May, including the lease/purchase of two new fire engines, the lease/purchase of a new vacuum sweeper/catch basin cleaner for the highway department, and $90,000 for the library to improve its heating and air conditioning system.

Adding to taxpayers. concerns has been recently updated property values, many of which have increased since the town began utilizing updated assessing software.

Hooksett's schools, which typically account for about half of the tax rate, have recently been promised more money this year.

The June 6 affirmation of the school district's operating budget grants $21,644,339, which is some $470,00 greater than what the district would have received with a default budget.

Taxpayers may also be forced to produce some extra school funds should pending legislation pass the state legislature.

Gov. John Lynch proposed a plan earlier this year which aimed to taper off state funding to wealthier districts, while increasing funding to poorer districts.

While Lynch's original proposal was rejected, both the House and Senate have now passed different modified versions of the bill. While it's still impossible to say exactly how Hooksett's district would be affected, the possibility exists that Hooksett taxpayers would have to dig even deeper.

"It's so unfair for the state to think that there are no poor people or people on fixed incomes in Hooksett," said school board member Ron Dion. "We don't think it's right."

Gary MacArthur, a retired teacher, said his tax bills have steadily increased since he moved to Hooksett in January 2004.

"I know a lot of older people in town who've been here a long time, that are having some tough times," said MacArthur. "There has to be some kind of tax relief for senior citizens."

MacArthur said he's in favor of supporting many of the town's needs, especially schools, but worries that rising tax rates may make living in Hooksett an impossibility.

"Everybody's demanding more and more," he said. "It's a nasty situation and I'm not sure what we can do about it."