HB1655

This Bill will not raise the funds needed for dam maintenance and places yet another "tax" on people who have lakefront property. Many of us only own property because of the foresight of our ancestors and struggle with the very high property taxes in NH. This ineffective bill only adds to that burden. Property owners are not the appropriate persons to be charged with raising these maintenance funds.

A better source of funding would be appropriate, that does not place an unfair burden on lakefront owners since the lakes are used and available to all state and out of state people.

This bill shifts far too much of the cost burden for maintaining state-owned dams onto waterfront property owners. There's no question that our state should have a long-term funding plan for dam maintenance. Here on Mascoma Lake we benefit a great deal from the Dam Bureau's management; we appreciate their expertise, good communication, and careful attention to the dam's function and impact on our shoreline. We also pay high property taxes in the shoreline protection districts in Enfield. I'm concerned that additional state taxation will force out owners of smaller properties, especially seasonal cottages with generations-long family histories. Please find other ways to fund dam maintenance.

HB 1655 places too much of the responsibility on waterfront property owners, rather than creating a fair, statewide approach that reflects the many groups who benefit from state-owned dams. I urge lawmakers to continue working on this issue and to work with a broad range of stakeholders to develop a stable, equitable funding solution that matches the scale of need and protects New Hampshire’s lakes, communities, and local economies. Thank you

I strongly encourage the committee to direct lawmakers to keep working toward a stable, equitable funding solution that better matches the scale of need and protects New Hampshire’s lakes, communities, and local economies.

Does not allow for individuals who regularly use and enjoy the lake that do not own property on the lake. Undue burden to lake front property owners who already pay higher taxes.

I recognize the work lawmakers have done over many years to study dam funding and explore solutions. But HB 1655 places too much of the responsibility on waterfront property owners, rather than creating a fair, statewide approach that reflects the many groups who benefit from state-owned dams. As a lakefront property owner, I already pay very high taxes. This bill doesn't solve the funding deficit and makes my taxes higher. We need a fair, statewide solution to this problem that affects all NH residents, not just waterfront owners. We urge lawmakers to continue working on this issue and to work with a broad range of stakeholders to develop a stable, equitable funding solution that matches the scale of need and protects New Hampshire’s lakes, communities, and local economies.

I think everyone should pay into a fund. I swim in the lake and our town counts on it for income. We all benefit from the state owned dam that holds lake Sunapee in.

All persons in NH and visitors to our state benefit from the NH lakes, both in recreation and business/tourism on the lakes. The cost of maintaining these lakes and the dams should not be thrust upon only those who own property on the lake. Certain landowners should not be responsible for the cost of maintaining the lakes for everyone. Imagine persons who owned land near mountain trails be asked to pay for the cost of maintaining the trails, or families who own land or home near ski areas be asked to pay for maintaining the access and safety of the ski areas, that is what this law is proposing. I strongly oppose this legislation.

Dealing with good maintenance of our dams is a state wide responsibility that should not fall just to property owners on or near to our beautiful bodies of water. This bill would raise just an estimated 3 million dollars when in fact the cost of maintaining these dams is five times higher. For this reason alone I urge you to oppose HB 1655.

HB 1655 places too much responsibility on waterfront homeowners, rather than creating a fair, statewide approach that includes the many individuals and organizations who enjoy the waterways created by state-owned dams

I oppose tghis bill as there is already too much burden tax burden on shorefront property owners and this proposal does not raise enough funds. Please seek another way to fund.

HB 1655 places too much of the responsibility for funding on waterfront property owners, rather than creating a fair, statewide approach that reflects the many groups who benefit from state-owned dams.

NH Lakes are enjoyed by so many - those who own lake property, those who live in NH that don't own lake property, and those who don't live in NH. NH needs to find a funding source that distributes the cost fairly, not just on the backs of lakefront property owners.

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Lawmakers have worked over many years to study dam funding and explore solutions. But HB 1655 places too much of the responsibility on waterfront property owners, rather than creating a fair, statewide approach that reflects the many groups who benefit from state-owned dams. I urge lawmakers to continue working on this issue and to work with a broad range of stakeholders to develop a stable, equitable funding solution that matches the scale of need and protects New Hampshire’s lakes, communities, and local economies.

I have owned a home on Merrymeeting Lake since 1977 and since 2007 I have participated on New Durham's Water Quality Committee (NDWQC). We first detected the exotic plant variable milfoil in some New Durham waters (2007) and have worked annually to contain the spread of this plant through treatment of infested areas and by examination of all boats using the Public Boat ramp.We next discovered toxic cyanobacteria in the Merrymeeting River and have worked closely with the EPA and NHDES to remediate this problem. As a member of the Merrymeeting Lake Association (MMLA) I have attended their educational sessions including those conducted by the NHDES on responsible home ownership within the shore line. As a New Durham taxpayer I have seen an enormous increase in property taxes during the past 5 years, over 90% of this tax increase is based on the land and more specifically the shoreline. Having the State place another tax , based on the same shoreline, seems unjust and I encourage the lawmakers to find a more equitable solution to an extremely expensive potential problem.Perhaps one place to begin is to look at the actual safety criteria adopted by the NH DES regarding dams in NH. Dams must be able to withhold all the water associated with a 1000 year storm with no adjustments to dam operation by human intervention. It is my understanding that NH is alone,among all fifty states,in selecting this most conservative safety criterion. The previous criterion was based on water arising from a 100 year storm. While most dams in NH will likely withstand a 100 year storm it seems unlikely that many dams were constructed to a 1000 year storm standard, meaning most will need some type of adjustment. I suggest a more reasonable safety criteria ,modifying the remediation budget, and then developing a budget solution which is stable and matches the scale of the budget needed.

more people should be involved with contributing money to this cause

I oppose HB 1655 because it places too much responsibility on waterfront property owners. I have lived on a small lake in NH for over 40 years, and already get taxed extra for having a waterfront home.

To members of the House Resources, Recreation and Development Committee: We desperately need funding to maintain dams in New Hampshire, but this bill unfairly burdens waterfront properties and doesn’t provide anywhere near the necessary funds. Yes, the folks with properties on Winnipesaukee & Squam and many other lakes benefit from these dams, but so do the people downstream who are protected from floods should these dams be breached. Targeting lake front property owners who already pay some of the highest taxes doesn’t seem fair. There has to be a better solution.

This bill places too much financial responsibility on the lakefront homeowner. We need to find a way to engage the many groups that benefit from state-owned dams.

As a New Durham, NH homeowner on Merrymeeting Lake I oppose this bill. Our family is not wealthy and our cottage has been in our family since it was purchased in 1964. Placing additional monetary burden on homeowners who have waterfront property that is already heavily taxed would create an extreme hardship on my family. Please creating a fair, statewide approach that reflects the many groups who benefit from state-owned dams.

To whom this may concern, I am a Emerita Board Member for the Merrymeeting Lake Association. I understand and appreciate the desire to preserve and protect NH lakes. I don’t feel that it is fair to expect lake/waterfront property holders to carry the burden of paying for the operation, maintenance and dam repairs. Property owners are already paying high property taxes due to the post COVID housing reassessments. It would be a shame to see homes that have been in the same generation for years, being sold to investors. NH Lakes are open to the Public and the State needs to continue to explore fair, statewide solutions.

This bill needs an amendment

I oppose this bill. It places too much financial responsibility on waterfront property owners for maintaining the state owned dams. It will not generate enough money to keep up with ongoing operation, maintenance and repair needs. Please continue to work on this important issue and find an equitable funding solution that protects NH lakes, communities and economies.