Carson, Reagan oppose increased property taxes and irresponsible spending

Concord, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate passed HB 616-FN, relative to a cost of living adjustment for retirees in the state retirement system. Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) and Senator John Reagan (R-Deerfield) issued the following statements:

“I have supported responsible COLAs in the past, but this legislation is an unfunded mandate on municipalities that will force towns to increase property taxes,” said Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry). “It does not only give a pay raise to those people who receive a modest pension, but to people receiving pensions over $100,000 a year will receive an increase as well. It took many years of tough decisions and hard work to get the retirement system to the financially stable place that it is today. I offered a more responsible floor amendment that would give a COLA to retirees without increasing property taxes, but unfortunately it was defeated by my Democratic colleagues.”

“When state employees join the pension system, there is no obligation for the state to regularly give pay raises to their pensions when they retire,” said Senator John Reagan (R-Deerfield). “There are a lot of financial obligations the state and towns need to address, but this will increase property taxes and make it more difficult to pay for programs that protect children and help our most needy citizens. Passing this legislation says retired state employees are more important than seniors living off social security with no pensions. This is a handout to highly paid union members at the expense of our hard-working taxpayers who are trying every day to make ends meet.”