NH OUTLOOK ROUNDTABLE EDITION, Friday, 1/26/2001
script iconPre-Show script iconIntro Mt Wash
script iconHeadlines script iconGoodnight
script iconKlemm/Chandler script iconFounders
script iconProperty Tax VO script icon*
script iconMerrimack script iconTease Monday
script iconVitts Closing script iconVacant Homes
script iconMain Street script iconJudicial Reform

script iconPre-Show
Return to index of stories... 		Next on New Hampshire Outlook. Journalists from around the state talk about the week's top stories. From layoffs in New Hampshire, to the latest in the education funding crisis.
script iconHeadlines
Return to index of stories... 		Good Evening. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook.
We begin tonight with a summary of today's state news.
script iconKlemm/Chandler
Return to index of stories... 		The Republican leaders of the New Hampshire legsilature are asking a Superior Court judge to reconsider ordering 884 million dollars in immediate refunds to property taxpayers.
Senate President Arthur Klemm and House Speaker Gene Chandler argue the attorney general's office exceeded its authority last year with a promise that the state would refund the statewide property taxes if it lost the lawsuit.
Last week, Superior Court Judge Richard Galway ruled that local property appraisals are suspect, and state procedures to ensure fairness and accuracy are inadequate. He ordered the state to return the money.
Attorney General Philip McLaughlin filed a separate court brief late this afternoon supporting their right to intervene but saying his office didn't exceed its authority.
script iconProperty Tax VO
Return to index of stories... 		Today, the panel of experts trying to fix flaws in New Hampshire's property tax system began its work.
Those flaws became apparent in the trial.
Governor Jeanne Shaheen has assembled a working group of legislators and government officials to come up with a plan to fix the system.
Revenue Commissioner Stanley Arnold is leading the 15-member group. They met for several hours today discussing the creation of state standards for local tax assessors. The Governor laid out their mission.
Stanley Arnold emphasized that the issue is not about overhauling the system. It's about equalizing the assessments across the state.
script iconMerrimack
Return to index of stories... 		And Uncertainty over state assessment practices has axed an eight--million dollar loan to keep Merrimack County government running for the next six months. Merrimack and other counties use short-term loans called "tax anticipation notes" or TANS, but they're running into trouble borrowing money because of the similarities in setting their tax rates to the statewide property tax. County Treasurer Stuart Trachy said tonight that Merrimack County sold eight--million dollars in notes last week, but the spuperior court ruling on the statewide porperty tax killed the deal. Merrimack County Government only has enough cash on hand to pay employees and critical bills for the next month.
script iconVitts Closing
Return to index of stories... 		A New Hampshire high speed internet company is being asked questions about why it's closing. The Public Utilities Commission is asking Manchester- based Vitts how it plans to ease the hardship on its customers.
Vitts says it will close at the end of next month, leaving 300 employees without jobs and more than one thousand customers without high-speed Internet access and network services. The announcement runs counter to P-U-C regulations, which require 60 days notice. The P-U-C also wants a list of customer addresses and evidence that customer deposits have been refunded. Vitts reports it's making an effort to help out employees. It plans on hosting a job fair next Tuesday at the Center of New Hampshire.
script iconMain Street
Return to index of stories... 		The town of Milford is one of 15 communities from around the country competing for a national award which recognizes revitalization of historic downtowns. New Hampshire has a very aggressive program.
Nationally, communities will be judged by a committee made up of representatives involved in community revitalization, economic development and historic preservation.
The 2001 Great American Main Street Award will be announced in April.
script iconIntro Mt Wash
Return to index of stories... 		Superbowl Sunday may keep a lot of people indoors, but that may mean more of an effort to get outside tomorrow. Weather Observor Brian Post of the Mount Washington Observatory checked in a few minutes ago with the forecast and the picture from Mount Washington.
OUT:
script iconGoodnight
Return to index of stories... 		That's all for this edition of Outlook. Thanks for joining us.
Stay tuned for New Hampshire Crossroads Classics.
Goodnight.
script iconFounders
Return to index of stories... 		Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook:
New Hampshire Charitable Foundadtion
Public Service of New Hampshire
Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust
Putnam Foundation
Stratford Foundation
script icon*
Return to index of stories... 		AP-NH--Property Tax Future
dewho
New group studying property tax to meet today
-- A new group looking into how to improve New
Hampshire's property tax assessment system meets for the first time
today.
State Revenue Commissioner Stan Arnold leads the group. He hopes
to have some recommended law changes within a couple of weeks. The
group includes a Republican and Democrat from the House and Senate,
representatives of the governor's office, the attorney general's
office, the Municipal Association, School Boards Association and
the state Association of Counties.
This afternoon's meeting is open to the public.






AP-NY-01-26-01 0635EST
script iconTease Monday
Return to index of stories... 		Monday on New Hampshire Outlook.
It was fifteen years ago that NH Science Teacher Christa McAuliffe perished in the shuttle disaster. Her mother and former student talk about Christa's legacy.
script iconVacant Homes
Return to index of stories... 		At the State of the City address this week, Manchester Mayor Bob Baines called for solutions to the critical housing crisis - and he ended up finding some solutions himself. After learning about some empty renovated public housing units , the Mayor took action, and got the city housing authority to make six three bedroom apartments available fo rent. The others will be available for emergency housing. The apartments had been rehabilitated with federal money and were intended for sale to public housing tenants, but for some reason lay vacant and unsold.
script iconJudicial Reform
Return to index of stories... 		A New Hampshire lawmaker says judicial reform won't happen as long as the Supreme Court's chief justice governs the administration of all state courts. Henry Mock, chairman of the House judiciary committee, told New Hampshire Bar Association members today that the judicial branch began a slow and steady decline as a partner in government in 1978, when the Supreme Court began administering the state courts.
Retired judge Sherman Horton said separation of powers is essential, and each branch of government should be able to determine its own procedures. The Bar Association forum focused on proposed legislative changes to help restore confidence in the state's judiciary system following last year's impeachment crisis.
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