Financing New Hampshire’s Cities and Towns: Update 2012

Full Report (PDF)

Executive Summary

New Hampshire is moving into Town Meeting season, when local budgets will be debated and decided upon by citizens. The NH Center for Public Policy Studies provides an updated analysis of the financing of local government operations from a statewide perspective. The report also provides examples of the data the Center has collected on each city and town in the state.

“Cities and towns in New Hampshire continue to face tremendous financial pressure from the lingering effects of the recession,” said Steve Norton, executive director of the Center. “Our updated report presents the data behind municipal budgets, lays out the trends behind local spending, and links some of those changes to broader trends in state and federal assistance.”

The study reveals a number of other trends. Currently, New Hampshire municipalities show significant differences in gross appropriation per capita, ranging from a low of $1,000-$2,500 per person to as much as $10,000-$35,000 per person. A wide variety of factors affect these local appropriations including spending caps, services required, property valuations, and so on. In addition, the interactive map below displays differences in basic municipal financing information, including a comparison to statewide averages for each city and town. (Click on a city or town for detailed info.)

For even more detailed town-by-town information, see datasets at: New Hampshire Town Historic Spending and Revenue; 2001, 2007, and 2010

and Financing New Hampshire's Cities and Towns: Dataset 2005-2010

Please let us know what you think of this year's report and maps, and email info@nhpolicy.org with any suggestions.

2011 Property Tax Rates by Municipality

Map Colors show 2011 Property Tax Rates for each municipality in New Hampshire.

0 to $14 per $1,000 valuation | $14 to $20 per $1,000 valuation | $20 to $25 per $1,000 valuation | $25 to $40 per $1,000 valuation