Devonai
Member
The link:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/ve...tes_tuesday_on_whether_to_join_new_hampshire/
The text:
KILLINGTON, Vt. -- The sign welcoming visitors to Killington heralds this ski-resort town as the heart of the Green Mountain State.
On Tuesday, though, residents will vote on whether they want the town to return to New Hampshire, the state where it was originally chartered in 1761, a state that is now 25 miles to the east.
David Lewis, Killington's town manager, says the campaign is no joke.
"It's been quite a long-term simmering," said Lewis. "People are frustrated."
The town has spent $20,000 so far on the effort, researching the advantage of secession and possible ways to accomplish it.
The resulting two-page resolution on the town ballot reads like a throwback to the 1700s, when the restive American colonies chafed under the rule of the British monarchy, an analogy Lewis is fond of making.
But Killington's plight has historical antecedents that are even closer to home.
In 1777 Vermont declared its independence from New York and New Hampshire, states that both had claims to the territory. Five years later, the towns of Guilford and Halifax tried to secede from the then-Republic of Vermont, claiming the state was an illegal entity.
That movement was quickly squashed by Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, said state archivist Gregory Sanford.
And while Killington's spat with the state will not likely result in armed conflict, historians said the town's push to join New Hampshire is fueled by the same secessionist impulse that's run throughout Vermont history.
"It's a strong impulse," said historian Paul Gillies. "It's imprinted on us."
Such sentiment is articulated often by Lewis, who said he and other residents are tired of paying millions of dollars in state taxes and getting little in return. At the heart of the displeasure is the state's new system of financing education, adopted in 1997 under order of the Supreme Court, which dramatically increased property taxes in communities, like Killington, deemed to be property wealthy.
That frustration drove Killington to challenge parts of the law in state Superior Court, a battle it won in 2002 when Judge William Cohen ruled in favor of the town. Killington's jubilation over the decision was short-lived, however; In October the Supreme Court overturned the ruling.
"That was the last nail in the coffin," said Lewis.
Secession, said Lewis, is the town's final recourse for challenging the state, and he believes the legality and economics behind the move are sound.
An analysis by the firm Northern Economic Consulting shows Killington residents and businesses will benefit from New Hampshire's lower property taxes and, most importantly, the state's famous lack of a general sales and personal income tax, Lewis said.
And the resolution drafted with help from the town's attorneys alludes to the "injuries" and "wrongs" meted out to Killington by the Supreme Court decision and language in the Vermont Constitution that officials say gives the town the right to "alter its form of government."
Such arguments make Lewis confident that voters will embrace secession in the Tuesday vote.
But even a positive outcome won't put the definitive stamp on the issue; rather, it will trigger a lengthy process of selling the idea to New Hampshire and Vermont officials, he said.
"The whole issue is predicated on whether New Hampshire feels they wish to take us, whether they feel the political and other ramifications are worth them accepting us," said Lewis. "That's not going to be an easy issue."
New Hampshire officials said they would wait until after Tuesday's votes before taking action on the idea.
"We'll wait to see what the results of the vote are and we'll go from there," said Wendell Packard, spokesman for New Hampshire Gov. Craig Benson.
If voters embrace secession, "We'll extend them the courtesy of reviewing their proposal," said Packard.
But it is Vermont legislators who have the ultimate power to create, and dissolve, a municipality within state boundaries.
That might explain why the passion fueling the secession movement in Killington isn't exactly equaled among state lawmakers, for whom the issue has stirred more skepticism than empathy.
"I think that in the long run, after they have a chance to express their displeasure, they'd more successful in having their issues addressed by working through the system," said John Bloomer, one of three state senators who represent Rutland County, where Killington is located.
Such a lackluster reception does not deter Lewis, who's already planning what to do once Killington leaves what he calls "the most centralized state in the country."
"People can still come here," said Lewis, whose office is decorated with a computer-altered picture of the town sign that reads "Killington, New Hampshire."
Lewis said the ski mountain Killington is famous for will only increase in appeal after the town joins the Granite State.
"People can ski Killington, New Hampshire, in the middle of Vermont," he said. "I'm not sure that will do anything but create some novelty interest -- but it can't hurt."
© Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/ve...tes_tuesday_on_whether_to_join_new_hampshire/
The text:
KILLINGTON, Vt. -- The sign welcoming visitors to Killington heralds this ski-resort town as the heart of the Green Mountain State.
On Tuesday, though, residents will vote on whether they want the town to return to New Hampshire, the state where it was originally chartered in 1761, a state that is now 25 miles to the east.
David Lewis, Killington's town manager, says the campaign is no joke.
"It's been quite a long-term simmering," said Lewis. "People are frustrated."
The town has spent $20,000 so far on the effort, researching the advantage of secession and possible ways to accomplish it.
The resulting two-page resolution on the town ballot reads like a throwback to the 1700s, when the restive American colonies chafed under the rule of the British monarchy, an analogy Lewis is fond of making.
But Killington's plight has historical antecedents that are even closer to home.
In 1777 Vermont declared its independence from New York and New Hampshire, states that both had claims to the territory. Five years later, the towns of Guilford and Halifax tried to secede from the then-Republic of Vermont, claiming the state was an illegal entity.
That movement was quickly squashed by Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, said state archivist Gregory Sanford.
And while Killington's spat with the state will not likely result in armed conflict, historians said the town's push to join New Hampshire is fueled by the same secessionist impulse that's run throughout Vermont history.
"It's a strong impulse," said historian Paul Gillies. "It's imprinted on us."
Such sentiment is articulated often by Lewis, who said he and other residents are tired of paying millions of dollars in state taxes and getting little in return. At the heart of the displeasure is the state's new system of financing education, adopted in 1997 under order of the Supreme Court, which dramatically increased property taxes in communities, like Killington, deemed to be property wealthy.
That frustration drove Killington to challenge parts of the law in state Superior Court, a battle it won in 2002 when Judge William Cohen ruled in favor of the town. Killington's jubilation over the decision was short-lived, however; In October the Supreme Court overturned the ruling.
"That was the last nail in the coffin," said Lewis.
Secession, said Lewis, is the town's final recourse for challenging the state, and he believes the legality and economics behind the move are sound.
An analysis by the firm Northern Economic Consulting shows Killington residents and businesses will benefit from New Hampshire's lower property taxes and, most importantly, the state's famous lack of a general sales and personal income tax, Lewis said.
And the resolution drafted with help from the town's attorneys alludes to the "injuries" and "wrongs" meted out to Killington by the Supreme Court decision and language in the Vermont Constitution that officials say gives the town the right to "alter its form of government."
Such arguments make Lewis confident that voters will embrace secession in the Tuesday vote.
But even a positive outcome won't put the definitive stamp on the issue; rather, it will trigger a lengthy process of selling the idea to New Hampshire and Vermont officials, he said.
"The whole issue is predicated on whether New Hampshire feels they wish to take us, whether they feel the political and other ramifications are worth them accepting us," said Lewis. "That's not going to be an easy issue."
New Hampshire officials said they would wait until after Tuesday's votes before taking action on the idea.
"We'll wait to see what the results of the vote are and we'll go from there," said Wendell Packard, spokesman for New Hampshire Gov. Craig Benson.
If voters embrace secession, "We'll extend them the courtesy of reviewing their proposal," said Packard.
But it is Vermont legislators who have the ultimate power to create, and dissolve, a municipality within state boundaries.
That might explain why the passion fueling the secession movement in Killington isn't exactly equaled among state lawmakers, for whom the issue has stirred more skepticism than empathy.
"I think that in the long run, after they have a chance to express their displeasure, they'd more successful in having their issues addressed by working through the system," said John Bloomer, one of three state senators who represent Rutland County, where Killington is located.
Such a lackluster reception does not deter Lewis, who's already planning what to do once Killington leaves what he calls "the most centralized state in the country."
"People can still come here," said Lewis, whose office is decorated with a computer-altered picture of the town sign that reads "Killington, New Hampshire."
Lewis said the ski mountain Killington is famous for will only increase in appeal after the town joins the Granite State.
"People can ski Killington, New Hampshire, in the middle of Vermont," he said. "I'm not sure that will do anything but create some novelty interest -- but it can't hurt."
© Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The radio piece had someone (Liberal) that said he understood why taxes might have to go up a few percentage points in order to provide for The Children, but then there was a the socialist who took issue with that, saying that the taxpayers of this li'l burg should gleefully embrace a 500% increase so as to provide for All The Children. I wanted to scream.
