Property Taxes
Over the next few weeks, there are some very important events that will directly impact how much of your hard-earned money gets “taken” from you in the form of property taxes. Property taxes are how our town services are funded and how the majority of school funding is collected. Of the property taxes collected in Weare, approximately 75% of those dollars go to schools, approximately 20% go to town services, and approximately 5% goes to county services. As proposed, the town and school taxes have the potential to go up about 9.5% this year, or somewhere around an additional $700 to $1,000 per household. If that increase makes you gasp, like it does me, please keep reading for opportunities to impact these decisions.
In Weare, New Hampshire, our town vote is a two-step process.
Step 1: Deliberative Sessions.
Step 2: Voting Day.
Step 1: Deliberative Sessions – The Deliberative Session’s purpose is to discuss, debate and potentially amend what the legislative body (Selectmen, School Boards) present as what they want to spend for the coming year and what they are proposing to place on the ballot. Deliberative is your opportunity to directly concur or amend the proposed spending. Yes, it can be several hours of your day. But what is more important than using a few hours, once a year, to influence how much of your hard-earned money gets “taken” from you in the form of taxes? Usually, less than 50 people show up and it is not uncommon for ONE VOTE to make a difference in the outcome.
- Weare Town: Saturday, January 31, beginning at 9:00 AM in the Weare Middle School Cafetorium
- Weare School: Wednesday, February 4, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Weare Middle School Cafetorium
- John Stark School: Friday, February 6, beginning at 7:00 PM in the John Stark High School Café
These sessions are open to all registered voters. I strongly urge you to attend all of these sessions. Your voice and vote is crucial to shaping the final version of what goes on the March 10 town-wide ballot. Bring your conservative neighbor along too!
Step 2: Voting Day – In person voting is Tuesday, March 10, 7 am – 7 pm, at the Weare Middle School Gym. Historically, voter turn-out for the town elections is low – Only about 20-25% of registered voters show up. Given that this election has the largest impact on your personal finances (more directly than Federal races), what is your excuse for not showing up?
Need an absentee ballot? See the below website or call the Weare Town Clerk’s office at 603-529-7527.
https://www.weare.nh.gov/town-clerk/pages/elections
Lastly, a reminder that the filing period for Town positions is open through Friday, January 30 2026. The following positions will be on the March 10 ballot. To get you name beside one, you will need to file by Friday.
Town – File at the Town Clerk’s office
- Selectman (2 x 3 years, 1 x 1 year)
- Town Moderator (1 x 2 years)
- Library Trustee (1 x 3 years)
- Supervisor of the Checklist (1 x 6 years)
- Ethics Committee (2 x 3 years)
Schools – File at the SAU Admin office
- Weare School Board Member (2 x 3 years)
- John Stark School Board Member (1 x 3 years)
- SAU 24 Treasurer
- SAU 24 Clerk
There may also be Moderator positions at both Weare and John Stark. Contact the SAU to confirm if you are interested.
Chair – Janice Mathews
Vice-Chair – Tom Flaherty
Secretary – Lu Richardson
Treasurer – Kurt Markarian