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Revaluation Causes


Tax Rate Spike


by S. Aaron Shamshoyan Residents receiving tax bills this week may notice a higher than anticipated tax rate, but that won’t result in a bigger bill. “We had to basically raise the same amount of money, we just had less assessed value to do it with,” said Town Manager Keith Hickey. By the end of second deliberative session, residents approved a $5.98 per thousand tax rate, which included the selectmen proposed $5.40 tax rate, and $2.5 million of roadwork. The $2.5 million increase will be reflected on the current bill. The town recently conducted a state mandated property revaluation, assessing property values 22 percent less then 2010. The decrease resulted in a needed tax rate increase to meet the town’s budget obligations of $27.9 million. The last revaluation was conducted in 2006. Residents will pay the same bill they would have with a $5.98 tax rate based on the 2010 assessed property value.


Businesses were also part of the


revaluation, with values dropping only 8.6 percent. “There’s more of a burden now on commercial,” said Hickey. Tax Collector Cheryl-Ann Bolouk said residents need to be aware the revaluation will not cause taxes to go down, as the town needs to raise the same amount of money. Bolouk explains on a document included with the tax bill that a house valued at $359,000 in 2010 would pay a total tax rate of $14.84 per thousand, where the value of that same house in 2011 would drop to $278,200 and pay a $20.14 tax rate, an increase of 5 percent or $275.00 While current tax bills are due December 1, elected officials are busy working on the 2012 proposed operating budget. The Town Manager presented selectmen with a budget at the requested $5.40 tax rate based on 2010 assessed property values, but selectmen voted to increase that to $5.74 to include a $5.25 million road project. The budget committee is currently in the process of reviewing the budget before residents have a chance to vote on it.


Snow Contest Postponed due to


Nor’easter


As most of the eastern seacoast came to a halt on the 29th with the record breaking snowstorm, it became impossible to reach our advertisers to start our Annual Snow Contest in this issue.


Look for the entry blank and contest rules in the papers of November 10 and November 18. As is the tradition, all entries must be received


by Friday, November 25, Prizes will go to those who correctly guess when we get our first inch of snow after November 24


Salem Community Patriot Patriot Nicole Deat, Christy Abraham, Lauren Smith, Allyson Lavoie and Hannah Limone


ECRWSS


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HUDSON, NH 03051


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View past issues and our other papers online.


Volume 5 Number 16 November 4, 2011 12 Pages Night of the Living Dead at SHS


Lead characters - Mary Taylor (Barbara) and Sam Gagnon (Ben)


Karen Cox and Emily Marsden by Robyn Hatch


The Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent film directed originally by George Romero, originally shown on October 1,1968. At first this movie was knocked down because of bloody and explicit content. The story follows Ben and Barbara, and five others trapped in a rural farmhouse in


Tory Hamilton, Michele Connors, Helen Shiepe


Pennsylvania while the house is attacked by Zombies. The radio in the show reports on a mass murder on the East Coast of the United States. The recently deceased have suddenly become reanimated by eating the flesh of living people.


Salem High Actor’s Guild recently presented


George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, adapted for the stage and directed by Chris Bujold. Even though the weather was bad, more than a couple hundred showed up for this production. There were close to 50 actors in this great production. Well worth the effort to see!


Salem Animal Rescue League Pet Parade


Sammo the Shih Tzu as a CSI detecive


The first Annual Halloween Pet Parade saw 15 dogs in many different costumes at the Rescue League on Saturday before the snow began to fall.


Te winner - Abby the Chinese Crescent as a dragon the most unique custome, Abgail the yorkie as a Patriot cheerleader, looks most like owner, Best in show Dodge the fire dog and the Halloween scariest Merlin as a mummy.


www.thecolosseumrestaurant.com Piano Bar Tues. & Weds. Evenings


Winner Best of NH 2008, 2009, 2010! Gift Certificates Available


From Napoli, Italy to Salem, NH How Italian Food Should Be!!


Breckenridge Plaza 264 NO. Broadway, Salem, NH 603-898-1190


November 6th 5 p.m to 7 p.m


Staff photos by Len Lathrop


Staff photos by Robyn Hatch


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