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Delegation Clarifies 1963 Law on ‘In‑Lieu’ Payment for Gunstock Area; Gunstock Pays Guilford Directly
Summary
Delegates reviewed a 1963 law requiring the county to make an in‑lieu payment to the town of Guilford for the Belknap County recreational area; county and Gunstock officials told the delegation that Gunstock has been paying the town directly — roughly $6,857 annually — rather than the county issuing the payment.
A delegation member asked the Belknap County Delegation to review a 1963 act that appears to require the county to pay an in‑lieu amount to the town of Guilford for the county’s recreational area. The delegate read the statutory language into the record: “The Belknap County recreational area in the town of Guilford shall be exempt from taxation... the county of Belknap shall pay to the town of Guilford with respect to said area and in lieu of taxes thereon, an amount equal to the taxes assessed on said area by said town for the year 1962.”
Delegates and county staff reported follow-up inquiries. Commissioner Lambert and others told the delegation they had spoken with Gunstock and Guilford officials; Gunstock’s CFO and Guilford’s town administrator told county staff that for at least the last 17–25 years Gunstock has been sending the payment directly to the town. Commissioner Lambert reported that Gunstock pays roughly $6,857 annually to the town of Guilford, and the practice appears longstanding though records prior to about 25 years ago were not reviewed.
A county staff member summarized the practical effect: payments have been reaching the town via Gunstock rather than by a county check; commissioners said there was no evidence of a missed payment but noted they had not reviewed records going back to 1963.
Ending: The delegation ended discussion after the county reported that Guilford has been receiving the in‑lieu payment from Gunstock for many years and that participants said the arrangement appears to have been working.
