RSA 32:5-c. Adoption of Local Tax Cap.

I. The provisions of RSA 32:5-b may be adopted by any local political subdivision of the state whose legislative body raises and appropriates funds through an annual meeting. A 3/5 majority of those voting on the question shall be required to adopt the provisions of RSA 32:5-b. Only votes in the affirmative or negative shall be included in the calculation of the 3/5 majority. II. The question shall be placed on the warrant of the annual meeting by the governing body or by petition under the procedures set out in RSA 39:3 or RSA 197:6. III. A public hearing shall be held by the local governing body on the question at least 15 days, but not more than 30 days, before the question is to be voted on. In multi-town districts, a public hearing shall be held in each town embraced by the district, none of which shall be held on the same day. Notice of the hearing shall be posted in at least 2 public places in the town and at least 2 public places in each town of multi-town districts, and published in a newspaper of general circulation at least 7 days prior to the date of the hearing. IV. For a tax cap using a fixed dollar amount or a fixed percentage, the wording of the question shall be: "Shall we adopt the provisions of RSA 32:5-b, and implement a tax cap whereby the governing body (or budget committee) shall not submit a recommended budget that increases the amount to be raised by local taxes, based on the prior fiscal year's actual amount of local taxes raised, by more than _____ (insert either a fixed dollar amount or a fixed percentage)?" For a tax cap using a multiplication factor per RSA 32:5-b, I-b, the wording of the question shall be: "Shall we adopt the provisions of RSA 32:5-b, and implement a tax cap whereby the governing body (or budget committee) shall not submit a recommended budget that increases the amount to be raised by local taxes (this year's base), that is higher than the prior fiscal year's actual amount of local taxes raised (last year's base), adjusted for inflation using the inflation index _____ (insert index) and the change in _____ (insert population or attendance), in accordance with RSA 32:5-b, I-b?" V. Voting on the question shall be by ballot, but the question shall not be placed on the official ballot used to elect officers, except in the case of a legislative body that uses an official ballot form of meeting under RSA 40:13 or under a charter adopted pursuant to RSA 49-D. Polls shall remain open and ballots shall be accepted by the moderator for a period of not less than one hour following the completion of discussion on the question. If a 3/5 majority of those voting on the question vote "yes," RSA 32:5-b shall apply within the local political subdivision beginning with the following fiscal year and for all subsequent years until it is changed as provided in paragraph V-a or rescinded as provided in paragraph VI. V-a. Any local political subdivision which has adopted RSA 32:5-b may consider adoption of a new tax cap, using any method described in RSA 32:5-b, II, in the manner described in paragraphs I through V. If the adoption of a new proposed tax cap fails, the existing tax cap shall continue to apply. VI. Any local political subdivision which has adopted RSA 32:5-b may consider rescinding its action in the manner described in paragraphs I through V. The wording of the question shall be: "Shall we rescind the provisions of RSA 32:5-b, known as the tax cap, as adopted by the (local subdivision) on (date of adoption), so that there will no longer be a limit on increases to the recommended budget in the amount to be raised by local taxes?" A 3/5 majority of those voting on the question shall be required to rescind the provisions of this section, except in the case of repeal by charter enactment under RSA 49-D. Only votes in the affirmative or negative shall be included in the calculation of the 3/5 majority. Source: Source. 2011, 234:6, eff. July 5, 2011. 2025, 183:2-4, eff. Sept. 13, 2025.