[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6295674,"mediaKeyId","2520028-38824198afb1e0c6c0b39be94c21da42","parentId",2520028,"title","Tax-collector candidate proposes office modernization, higher elderly exemptions","audioSeconds",87,"startMs",1706000,"endMs",1793000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2520028-38824198afb1e0c6c0b39be94c21da42&start=1706&end=1793","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2520028-38824198afb1e0c6c0b39be94c21da42/thumbnail_1706000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6295674/Loudon/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Tax-collector-candidate-proposes-office-modernization-higher-elderly-exemptions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6295674-335ae96a633e8f43f16d03aa8e9b5eb0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775671013&Signature=HT5TWCWARq5YXEpQ2D5I08KtTW1A5cWtGqy~yZ38q8aDvPs5WGPBWVR3Nuz9jmQlqj921-rOJYegHIfbHZIndTEY6EOztyYBBtw1TcNJEJ~8UMZIk5FpoBZlTPtRFXFepMtLxi4yKhRLjWa-h~a2lA4f-MnZOp2sV6Um3kZsY74eKFqWYGTWchI83VIuxeSIs~HO1tY~9II17WlIUIYm1mhBJmK8oVhLs5QvztqX7hRVyqAhnVhd7zvbu8TJ4hKoZBvWpqKvn0zHj6WVNNpztGPsdJCCvL9bK3U~qmAM753IFrCIw8CNzO3L6ZFKS6xxtevn6Dyw9aTNpTxDUkUCiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Loudon NH","date","2025-03-06T12:52:20Z","article","At the Loudon candidate forum, Becky Myrtle Osgood, the current appointed tax collector and candidate for the remaining one-year term, described plans to modernize the tax-collector’s office and to review elderly exemptions.

Osgood introduced herself as the current appointed tax collector and a Loudon resident of 25 years. “I am fiscally conservative and when I was trying to pull together the budget for this year, I tried to reduce wherever it was possible on the budget lines,” she said, and added she has experience as a CPA and grant writer.

Why it matters: Osgood said she has seen residents struggle to pay property taxes and believes Loudon’s elderly exemption levels are low compared with neighboring towns. She told the forum she is “in the midst of gathering information” about increasing elderly exemptions and would work with selectmen and departments to consider changes.

Key proposals

- Modernization: Osgood said she plans to “modernize the office and make as many forms and other applications available online.”

- Elderly exemptions: She described conversations with townspeople who had difficulty paying taxes and said she will research raising the town’s elderly exemption to better match surrounding communities.

Ending

Osgood asked for voter support at the upcoming election and said she would continue efforts to streamline tax-collector services if elected.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Candidates Night - March 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Becky Myrtle Osgood, the appointed tax collector running for a one-year term, said she wants to modernize the tax-collector's office, expand online access to forms and pursue higher elderly exemptions after meeting residents who struggled to pay property taxes.","taxTitle","Loudon, Merrimack County , New Hampshire","taxId",61624,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6295679,"Candidates propose quarterly coordination among Selectmen, Planning and Zoning to reduce confusion and improve enforcement",1407,3635000,5042000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2520028-38824198afb1e0c6c0b39be94c21da42&start=3635&end=5042","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2520028-38824198afb1e0c6c0b39be94c21da42/thumbnail_3635000.jpg","/articles/6295679/Loudon/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Candidates-propose-quarterly-coordination-among-Selectmen-Planning-and-Zoning-to-reduce-confusion-and-improve-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6295679-00ac3bf950292aec84ec00a49ac96122/orig.mp4?Expires=1775671013&Signature=BWXN0oSkP2pa0tCjPvxN4jqXTRtswvXTO0ntqrGK~dcnXJoY0bKMo3VPrZH2yCN8MfyGt03oU6eqiMQPZvmKCT5IiPtqaGEcmO7FVULgYWO4VtPG3jHDcjyjQHyjButPLHNjv5uqrSp~rCtS6MjRjYq7AW1h48mQAu7s-EpWn6O8O9JrwdU1IdezUVAMvvrfHXaZ1bjRw6iwLdbb3Pjnhr-haWJcjq6523KXvLjZ7tjLqiCqBKKcamDiF00VMKsN4wBbxSSbjFEI1VV039i45iMmXg0POQ9lXwsNS3FFUopTV883v5R04IkH5IfyeRfq-4SygIwLrVTHiInoJPsgxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and candidates at the Loudon forum identified better interboard coordination — among the selectmen, planning board and zoning board — as a priority to reduce confusion about responsibilities and enforcement.

Several speakers recommended establishing a regular, shared meeting cadence so leaders can clarify roles, flag overlapping projects and bring in the town attorney for guidance. “I would encourage that maybe it would be mandatory that there was, you know, maybe select[men], planning and zoning meet once a month for an hour or two,” said a resident (Dwayne Gilman). A number of candidates suggested quarterly meetings and periodic attorney briefings instead of an onerous monthly requirement.

Why it matters: Speakers said unclear lines of responsibility cause residents to get conflicting answers from different boards and that occasional joint meetings with legal counsel previously helped clarify enforcement duties. The zoning ordinance was cited specifically as placing enforcement responsibility with the selectmen or their designee.

Discussion highlights

- Past joint meetings: Several forum participants recalled previous multi-board sessions, sometimes with the town attorney present, that helped clarify which board carries enforcement obligations and which handles discretionary approvals.

- Ex officio roles and open-meeting considerations: Voters asked whether selectmen should have an ex officio representative on the zoning board as they do for the planning board; candidates explained that zoning boards act in a quasi-judicial capacity and state law constrains how executive-branch members can participate in quasi-judicial proceedings. All three bodies are public meetings and candidates said elected members can attend meetings as the public.

- Education and transparency: Candidates proposed educational sessions for board members, streaming or posting meeting minutes online, and making it easier for the public to find agendas and related documents.

Ending

Several candidates and residents urged more regular coordination and clearer public materials, and recommended the town consider attorney-led trainings and regular interboard check-ins to reduce friction before it escalates to litigation or confusion at permit time.","Forum participants and candidates suggested regular joint meetings, attorney-led training and clearer public materials to improve the working relationship among Loudon’s selectmen, planning board and zoning board, and to resolve role confusion and enforcement questions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6295684,"Candidates support bond to replace aging Loudon ladder truck; estimates vary on tax impact",2107,1513000,3620000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2520028-38824198afb1e0c6c0b39be94c21da42&start=1513&end=3620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2520028-38824198afb1e0c6c0b39be94c21da42/thumbnail_1513000.jpg","/articles/6295684/Loudon/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Candidates-support-bond-to-replace-aging-Loudon-ladder-truck-estimates-vary-on-tax-impact","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6295684-31362a9ec9de388d06d97ce7fb530480/orig.mp4?Expires=1775671013&Signature=gsr8Bv~8HLrsSulO-XrvFHZz6mKmcR8gQrKfrpL9HVwldlWDT7CBX048rlKSPHpwtddeGuUc8Hu1jmbSiIKM2LO2NXpf5ZXYSLWzovSZ40lq8f~rBInb-3b69esHLZ2iP-zqSHb50Rno4N7~CU6mw6eRCaAXC~faneM1QheL2ftnxtd-Fa3bW43zQhNAbJMmXjT8EoaBEdrXemyfm5Z9JVGi1W7yKyp-QT68r~pHrkwDNrCEhsaFQIzZzgs9Qi2MXfZIloB42xNFunqb1D~bcJrbrstyGRBq~mzVRNqja48d~pfpAkZ6GJaKJqc2RAAk42sdr-b00R~Wd5LsGBq29A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Loudon forum, candidates and officials discussed a proposed bond to replace the town’s aging ladder truck, describing maintenance difficulties and the potential tax impact of financing a new apparatus.

Selectmen candidate Mark Griffin said he inspected the department’s ladder and described parts shortages and service interruptions. “It's not all of that's been in Loudon. ... it seems to sometimes get down on service and we have a harder time fixing it because of its age,” he said. He summarized a tax-impact chart he’d seen as roughly “25 cents per $1,000” in the first year, tapering in later years; other forum participants recalled seeing higher estimates.

Why it matters: The ladder truck is used for mutual-aid responses with neighboring Concord and for taller commercial and solar-equipped roofs that preclude ladder access. Speakers said a new aerial unit would preserve regional response capacity and prevent escalating retrofit costs if prices rise during a long manufacturing lead time.

Discussion highlights

- Condition and age: Candidates said the current ladder unit dates from about 2004 and was purchased used, complicating parts availability and repairs.

- Cost and financing: One speaker cited an initial cost “over $1.5 million” before fund offsets, with a proposed bond and manufacturer deposit intended to lock in price and avoid future increases. Estimates of the tax impact differed at the forum — one chart was described as about $0.25 per $1,000 in year one, another participant recalled seeing about $0.50 per $1,000. Presenters said the town would not pay the full purchase price up front but would use a bond schedule to spread payments.

- Lead time and mutual aid: Fire and selectmen candidates said manufacturers typically require two to three years to build a custom ladder truck; passing a bond and making a deposit aims to fix price escalation during that period. Candidates emphasized that Loudon’s equipment complements Concord’s and regional mutual-aid arrangements.

Community reaction and next steps

Speakers urged voters to weigh the long-term maintenance costs of continuing to operate an older aerial against the tax impact of a bond. Forum participants recommended that voters review the selectmen’s detailed bond proposal and attend the town meeting where the bond would be considered.

Ending

Candidates said the choice is between ongoing maintenance and parts scarcity for an older unit or paying to secure a modern ladder truck with a multi-year payment plan if voters approve the proposed bond.","Selectmen candidates described an aging ladder truck and backed a multi-year bond to secure a replacement, citing parts scarcity and growing local building heights; candidates gave differing estimates of the tax impact and warned of a multi-year lead time to receive a new unit.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6295689,"Loudon school-board candidates spar over $2 million SAU shortfall, state funding and vouchers",2581,395000,2976000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2520028-38824198afb1e0c6c0b39be94c21da42&start=395&end=2976","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2520028-38824198afb1e0c6c0b39be94c21da42/thumbnail_395000.jpg","/articles/6295689/Loudon/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Loudon-school-board-candidates-spar-over-2-million-SAU-shortfall-state-funding-and-vouchers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6295689-10973d2ceabfc51158ca397aeebc0372/orig.mp4?Expires=1775671013&Signature=MYnwngJh1iIK2WSgnlTPKKGfh9ujZ~YOlln1D6eOYXRf6KOPJ1kGumyVxhvIMaQIQqJCb3OlsYZkX0OiRevbhL2Txb8Ss7cBabp7ju8uUCIHYY0W9VaxfIByI4jtU81rdxSrsUuro1-zDwxPShyclwxRe2GPtIeSNOIOLnTsZSr1zPqsSl-794TeKkIB136RzsexrkTZJNONpaxKV-1FWiDeud1MgeWuVWq7kYa9-sgtFAiUhvy1vXhv36PamRJVqNhCfov-q0TgsV0oEwfprsRUZioboEc3LryMAkzumUmbAD-Y4gvVA1L05LjE2Cdi~Ix7k-fp~zPrii~oFcy4jQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a candidate forum in Loudon, multiple school-board candidates and residents pressed for accountability after the Merrimack Valley School District disclosed a roughly $2,000,000 shortfall and defended the need to keep student services intact.

Candidates said improving student proficiency and fiscal transparency are top priorities. “We have got to make a curriculum ... that teaches every child how to read and how to do math,” said Alexandra (School board candidate, Salisbury), noting published proficiency figures she said were “somewhere around 49%.” Tom Laliberte, a candidate and former elementary principal, said the district must balance student needs with taxpayers’ ability to pay and promised “to operate with openness and honesty” if elected.

Why it matters: Candidates and residents warned that cuts to positions and programs could harm student services and community safety. Several speakers traced part of the strain to state-level funding decisions and rising special-education costs that districts are required to cover.

Discussion highlights

- Accountability and the $2 million shortfall: Multiple speakers faulted district management and urged clearer, earlier disclosure. Alexandra said district leadership “hid from all of us this deficit.” Other candidates, including Lorna Carlisle and David Nesbitt, said special-education costs and mandates make budgeting difficult and that the shortfall may not reflect intentional concealment.

- Funded-but-vacant positions: A candidate identified “six positions in this budget that are funded with full salaries and benefits” but said the district does not plan to fill them now; she called that practice problematic for transparency in budgeting.

- State funding, vouchers and adequacy: Candidates and residents repeatedly urged action to press state legislators for more school funding. Speakers said New Hampshire’s low per-student state aid shifts a large share of education costs to local taxpayers and that expanding voucher programs reduces funds available to public schools. One candidate said the district is legally required to provide transportation for students who attend charter schools but does not receive the associated per-pupil voucher funding.

- Enrollment and program consolidation: Several candidates suggested examining under-enrolled schools and programs (cited examples included Webster and Salisbury schools, Washington Street School programs and Pennacook Elementary staffing) as potential cost-savings measures, while acknowledging such moves would require detailed study.

- SAU and contract accountability: Residents asked who negotiates union contracts; candidates said negotiations involve board representatives and SAU staff. Calls for clearer contract accountability surfaced after the deficit disclosure, including suggestions to review how raises and benefits are approved and whether contract language enables stronger fiscal oversight.

Community reaction and next steps

Residents pressed candidates for concrete steps they would take if elected: improved, plain-language budget presentations; earlier public planning sessions in spring; and more rigorous review of procurement and contract processes. Several candidates said they would listen, ask detailed questions, and push for clearer public materials and faster access to budget information on the district website.

Ending

The forum closed with repeated appeals to contact state representatives about education funding and with candidates urging voters to attend the district budget hearing and to vote in the upcoming town election.","At a Loudon candidate forum, school-board candidates and residents pressed for clearer accounting and accountability after a reported $2 million shortfall in the Merrimack Valley School District budget and debated state funding, vouchers and special-education costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tax-collector candidate proposes office modernization, higher elderly exemptions

Candidates propose quarterly coordination among Selectmen, Planning and Zoning to reduce confusion and improve enforcement

Candidates support bond to replace aging Loudon ladder truck; estimates vary on tax impact

Loudon school-board candidates spar over $2 million SAU shortfall, state funding and vouchers