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 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook tonight. New Hampshire has long lived by the philosophy of local control. What impact would a proposed constitutional amendment insuring home rule have? Final witnesses testify in the state education funding lawsuit. WIPE And.a symphony of whales comes to Nashua |
| Headlines Return to index of stories... |
Good Evening. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. We begin tonight with a summary of state news. |
| Judiciary Forum Return to index of stories... |
The man whose memo launched the investigation of New Hampshire's state Supreme Court says the public should share his pride in the court's integrity. Court clerk Howard Zibel made those comments to the New Hampshire Bar Association after being greeted by a standing ovation this morning in Manchester. It was Zibel's memo, describing possible ethical violations at the court, that triggered the investigation, leading to Justice Stephen Thayer's resignation and Chief Justice David Brock's impeachment. Zibel said the chief justice is hard at work after being acquitted two weeks ago and that the court is making progress cutting into its backlog. |
| Fuel Price Hearing Return to index of stories... |
If at first you don't succeed - try and try again. That's the attitude of a group of New Hampshire lawmakers hoping to get public input on the cost of heating homes and filling up at gas stations. The committee issued an invitation to New Hampshire consumers to voice concerns about the high cost of fuel today - but no one came. Instead - lobbyists for private oil industries were the only ones in attendence voicing their opinion. The committee hasn't given up - and is inviting the public to an open meeting.next Wednesday, November 1st, at 11 in the morning at the Legislative Office Building in Concord. The committee hopes to make recommendations on how consumers can be better protected from rising prices. |
| Oil Reserve Bill Return to index of stories... |
A bill to establish a permanent home heating oil reserve program for the Northeast is headed to President Clinton for his signature. Congress approved the bill yesterday. It authorized the president to release oil when there's a shortage or other crisis in New England. The reserve contains two million barrels of home heating oil. |
| Catholic Med. Ctr Return to index of stories... |
Catholic Medical Center in Manchester is pulling funds from a city health clinic because the center provides birth control and abortion referrals. The decision will cost the Manchester Community Health Center, about 300 thousand dollars or 10 percent of its funding. C-M-C's president says the hospital and health center have differing notions of appropriate clinical services. |
| Warden Resigns Return to index of stories... |
The warden of New Hampshire's new prison in Berlin has resigned - effectively immediately. The State Corrections Commissioner says Sidney Bird resigned for personal reasons. Records in Coos County Superior Court show nine complaints have been filed against the prison and the former warden since May. Inmates complained about bad food, poor medical treatment and poor ventilation. Officials say they have no reason to believe the suits are connected to Bird's resignation. They say Bird did an excellent job opening the prison. |
| Summary Wrap Return to index of stories... |
That's the news summary. We'll be back with our discussion on Home Rule, an update on the Education Lawsuit and a Symphony of Whales after the weather. |
| Weather Forecast Return to index of stories... |
TONIGHT VARIABLE CLOUDS PATCHY FOG WITH LOWS IN THE 40S. TOMORROW PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY HIGHS IN THE 60s TO LOWER 70s FRIDAY CHANCE OF SHOWERS HIGHS 55 TO 65. |
| Intro Education Suit Return to index of stories... |
The trial portion of a legal challenge to the statewide property tax concluded today. The case was brought by the Coalition of Communities, so-called donor towns and cities that faced higher property taxes when the state defined them as property-rich. The Coalition charges that the state's method of figuring that tax is inaccurate and unfair. As producer Richard Ager tells us, the case could have a major impact on our tax structure. |
| EDUCATION SUIT Return to index of stories... |
Track: As could be expected, the trial presented two different perceptions of the statewide property tax. This week, as the trial concluded, the defense called on expert witnesses to note the strengths of the state's methods of figuring the tax. Standup: Earlier in the trial, the plaintiffs produced experts who testified, among other things, that the state's method of equalization was inconsistent. They testified that it allowed different communities to use different methods to calculate real estate values. One expert said NH's tax system is among the most deficient in the nation. Bite: Tax lawsuit tape 1 14:30 The key is, and it's the industry standard, you have to have a full evaluation, which is collecting the property characteristics of everyone's home. By way of example, no bank would lend you money on the basis of a 30-year old appraisal on your property. It's the same issue here. There are communities that haven't revalued in decades. So that's true of individual communities. Now how do you compare community to community on the basis of a failed system - and each community locally? Track: Both sides agree that nearly a third of the state's municipalities have done no revaluations for at least 5 years, even though the constitution states that there should be a valuation quote: "taken anew once in every five years". But the state maintains its equalization method does just that. Bite: Tax Lawsuit tape 1 8:20 What equalization does is - equalization deals with every property in a community. It is based on only a certain number of sales , not every property in a community sells in a given year, so every property in a community is compared to sales of similar property in that community - so as a result, every property gets an equalization ratio. So property is brought up or down to market value, depending on what is going on in that community. Track: The coalition also charged that much of the money the state collects is not going to schools. Bite: Tax Lawsuit tape 1 21:50 It's our contention that the money that shifts from town to town is being sent to some towns with no state oversight or control on how it's being used and in many cases, it's not being used to promote education, but instead is being used to promote local tax relief. We say that is inappropriate. Track: But the state's commissioner of revenue disagreed. Bite: Tax Lawsuit tape 2 55:59 That was the intent of many people in the legislature - that this would go back as property tax relief. Track: The commissioner of education, who retires on Monday, testified about how the state's funding money is being spent, but also reflected on it's overall impact. Bite: Tax Lawsuit tape 4 25:30 It is hard to measure, but I can tell you that the attitudes of people who now realize that they are in a partnership with the state and the local community - not a takeover, a partnership, has gone a long way to help people tend to focus on the work of the classrooms Bite: Tax Lawsuit tape 3 01:20 There are two separate issues and I think it is very important that we keep them separate. The one issue is whether or not the property tax is the appropriate funding method to solve Claremont. The other issue is - the property tax - when it is working, is it working fairly, and are people being treated proportionally? I would answer yes to the second question. Whether or not it is the appropriate vehicle to be used, there's a lot of debate - and that's what we're going to spend the next year doing again. Soundup: Tax lawsuit tape 4 37:58 "Those communities with coefficients of dispersion greater than 10% represented 9% of the state's equalized value. That's greater than 20% COD. Track: Understandably, much of the argumentation has been highly technical. It's now up to Judge Richard Galway to sort out the details, and possibly decide the tax structure of the state. A decision in the case is not expected for at least a month. |
| Intro Home Rule Return to index of stories... |
On November 7th, New Hampshire voters will decide on a constitutional amendment - which if passed - would alter the way government works in the granite state. It's called Home Rule. And here to talk about what home rule means and representing both sides of the issue we have in studio, Maura Carroll, Counsel to the NH Muunicipal Association and Brett St. Clair of the Business and Industry Association. |
| Thank guests Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to Maura Carroll - general counsel to the NH Municipal Association and Brett St. Clair with the Business and Industry Association. Once again, the election is November 7th. Here's what your vote on Home Rule Means. |
| Business Outlook Return to index of stories... |
In business news today. The Union Leader of Manchester and New Hampshire Sunday News, are under new ownership. The voting stock of the Union Leader Corporation, owned by its late publisher, Nackey Loeb, has been donated to the school founded in her name last year. Publisher Joseph McQuaid said Mrs. Loeb's wishes in the transfer were to keep the newspapers independent and avoid family inheritance taxes. He said the transfer is modeled after the Poynter Institute in Florida, which owns the St. Petersburg Times. The Union Leader is among the fewer than 50 independently owned papers of over 50-thousand circulation. It soon could be illegal for New Hampshire fishermen to use scouting planes to help catch Atlantic blue fin tuna. Congress may attach such a provision later this week to an appropriations bill. The measure could be voted on before the congressional session ends Friday. Supporters of the ban say planes accelerate the catch, which unfairly uses up fishing quotas too quickly. But those who use the planes say the ban will hurt their ability to make a living. |
| Intro Symphony of Whales Return to index of stories... |
If you and your children are thinking of getting out this Saturday, you might want to spend the afternoon with the Nashua Symphony. The orchestra will be performing a Symphony of Whales: the creation of a New Hampshire composer, musician and writer. |
| website Return to index of stories... |
For information on tonight's program, and links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.o-r-g. You can give us your feedback, see and hear streaming video of our broadcasts and participate in our daily poll. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
In a one-on-one interview Cong. John Sununu outlines why he wants New Hampshire to send him back to Washington. and. sharing music with your neighbors, we visit with Durham's Community Orchestra. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of New Hampshire Outlook. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, thanks for joining us. Stay tuned for NOVA. We'll be back tomorrow at 7:30. Good night. |
| founders 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 |
| promo Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. We'll spend some time with an 80 year old Durham institution - the UNH Symphony Orchestra which brings together students, faculty and local residents to share the gift of music with their neighbors. Join us tonight at 7:30 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Vets Protest Return to index of stories... |
Veterans picketed at the New hampshire offices of U-S Senator Judd Gregg's yesterday. They say they're unhappy with Gregg's votes on veterans' health care and retirement benefits. Gregg cast votes that prevents veterans from getting free lifetime health insurance promised decades ago. Disabled vets would have gotten full disability pay along with full retirement pay - instead of having the disability amount subtracted from the retirement figure. A spokesman for Gregg says the Senator has helped veterans in many ways, including establishing the first veterans cemetery in the state, encouraging Veterans Administration outpatient clinics and reversing proposed cuts at the V-A center in Manchester. |