If you missed the Wednesday 11/13/2024 Town Budget Committee meeting be sure to keep an eye out for when the recording of it gets loaded up on to https://epping.vod.castus.tv/vod

You'll witness another failure by our Budget Committee Chairman who didn't follow-through with a committee voted dictate to have Town departments come before the Budget Committee and present their budgets. Another shining example on how our Town Budget Committee Chairman (who needs to be replaced with someone who doesn't "talk out of both sides of their mouth") doesn't take the position seriously...thus rendering our Budget Committee ineffective when trying to control spending.

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Once again the Absentee Voting process was manipulated in our "General Election"...here in Epping.

Is there a legitimate reason why someone in their upper 40's...that has made their home, over the past 20 some years 250 plus miles from Epping...continues to use a family member's Epping home address as their own...in order to cast their vote(s) in Epping elections...via an absentee ballot?

You be the judge...according to TITLE LXIII ELECTIONS Chapter 657 regarding "ABSENTEE VOTING" Eligibility Section 657:1 (https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/lxiii/657/657-mrg.htm?id=8589992027)

I. Any person who will be absent on the day of any state election from the city, town, or unincorporated place in which he or she is registered to vote or who cannot appear in public on any election day because of his or her observance of a religious commitment or who is unable to vote there in person by reason of physical disability may vote at such elections as provided in this chapter. A person who is unable to appear at any time during polling hours at his or her polling place because of an employment obligation shall be considered absent for purposes of this chapter. For the purposes of this section, the term "employment" shall include the care of children and infirm adults, with or without compensation.

II. When the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning, blizzard warning, or ice storm warning for election day applicable to the city, town, or unincorporated place: (a) A person who otherwise would have voted in person but has concerns for his or her safety traveling in the storm, shall be considered absent for purposes of this chapter and may vote absentee on the day immediately prior to the election. (b) A person who cares for children or infirm adults who reasonably anticipates that school, child care, or adult care will be canceled, who otherwise would have voted in person but will be deterred from voting by the need to care for children or infirm adults, shall be considered absent for purposes of this chapter and may vote absentee on the day immediately prior to the election. (c) As required by RSA 652:20, the clerk's office shall be open to receive applications for absentee ballots, to provide voters the opportunity to complete absentee ballots, and to receive returned ballots on the day immediately prior to an election at a minimum from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The clerk may designate a deputy clerk or assistant to provide this service, provided the individual has taken the oath of office and has been trained in the requirements for using an absentee ballot and the procedures for issuing and receiving absentee ballots. (d) In the event an election is postponed pursuant to RSA 669:1, the provisions of subparagraph (c) shall apply to the day before the date of the originally scheduled election and the day before the date of the postponed election.

Source. 1979, 308:2; 436:1. 2006, 136:1, eff. July 21, 2006. 2016, 130:1, eff. May 27, 2016. 2018, 329:4, eff. Jan. 1, 2019. 2019, 192:5, 6, eff. July 10, 2019.

The actual "domiciled home address" of this non-Epping resident absentee voter is not in Epping and the reason this person continues, for some 20 plus years...to cast vote(s) in a town they don't live in is deceptive. Is the real reason this person continues to use an Epping family member's home address as their own...when they clearly aren't an Epping resident (with a domiciled home here)...an act of manipulation? According to the NH State Attorney General's Office, ((https://www.doj.nh.gov/bureaus/election-law/establishing-domicileresidence-new-hampshire)) the terms "domicile" and "residence" are equivalent. Even though RSA 21:6-a and RSA 654:1 contain different words, they convey the same basic concept. When a person makes a town or ward in New Hampshire his or her principal place of physical presence to the exclusion of all other places, that person has established a domicile/residence.

You make a town or ward in New Hampshire your principal place of physical presence to the exclusion of all other places. Your actions in New Hampshire reveal your intent to make a place in New Hampshire your domicile/residence. Such actions include, but are not limited to, purchasing or leasing a principal (i.e. primary) house or apartment, obtaining a resident vehicle registration, placing dependent children in a publicly funded school, registering to vote, paying taxes applicable only to residents, etc. RSA 21:6; RSA 21:6-a; RSA 259:23; RSA 654:1.

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Epping Taxpayers/Residents....please make the time to watch/listen to our Town's Budget Committee meeting from Wednesday evening, Sept. 11th. Here's the weblink: https://epping.vod.castus.tv/vod/?video=a956efe3-e591-4a19-9bf7-0eae3b61114d&nav=recent

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The following observations and opinions are from someone who knows what's occurring within Epping government and are strictly based on a professional basis, and are all a matter of Public Record.

The Epping, NH Governmental Structure

The structure of the Epping Government is archaic and may have been sufficient in the past before Epping’s growth exploded. Epping is governed by committees, boards, and a commission. From what I have experienced, there is no one person in your government that can be held accountable for anything. Even your Town Administrator position is just a clerk’s position. The position has no authority as a mayor or Town Manager. All of Epping’s boards and committees are the same. Their meetings are nothing but opinion fests with people who get elected by their friends. Much like high school elections, nothing but a popularity contest. No one really goes to the meetings or even watches them on your ETV. I don’t blame them; they are a joke. There were those that had to be at the Water & Sewer Commission meetings that couldn’t wait to get out. Just sitting in those meetings with three people who have never treated a gallon of wastewater, instructing others on how to do their job, was too much to take for them. I am sure that there are some knowledgeable people on some of the committees, and I know that they receive a small stipend, but they are part-time volunteers and not held accountable.

Maybe the town’s residents should realize that instead of spending their tax dollars and Water & Sewer fees to support outside engineers, consultants, contractors, and others, they should make a change and have an accountable government. You may have to pay them, but they will have to be accountable, and have skin in the game (their livelihood), and it would be much cheaper in the long run. Believe me, I am not a big government person, but there comes a time when you must face the music. Epping has grown by leaps and bounds in terms of business and residential numbers, but its government and infrastructure to support the growth has not. Your town just had an election, how do you see it changing anything?

Water & Sewer

First of all, they are an “Enterprise Funded Organization” and are not held accountable by the taxpayers, or anybody else. Only the users pay. That is wrong on its face! The entire town benefits from water & sewer services, should contribute and have the ability to hold people accountable. It is a betterment for society. I have not had a child in the public school system for over 14 years, can I stop paying my taxes? After all, I am not a user. There are many cities and towns that employ the enterprise system for water and sewer, but they are usually administered by knowledgeable town or city paid employees, such as an experienced DPW Director. Not elected residents who happen to have friends. It is ridiculous! Your Water & Sewer Commission recently raised the rates for users about 80% without a notice, hearings, or quite frankly a good explanation except for blaming the state of NH. I know better. Do you know that the town is under a State mandated moratorium for Septage Receiving (reported annual revenue of 600-900K), and new sewer connections for anyone, causing the lack of further development and the tax revenue that would have been generated by usable public utilities, the Wastewater and Water Treatment Facilities. The reason is that neither one of them are capable of supplying the permitted services that they were supposedly designed for. ERGI talks about kicking the can down the road, which really is the Epping way and true. However, there is also kicking the can back to previous boards, committees, and commissions, so that no one takes responsibility for what they don’t do. Somebody else did it before I got here attitude. It is pervasive in Epping politics! Epping just had an election; one incumbent Water & Sewer commissioner was on the ballot unopposed. The candidate received almost 1,200 votes. Why?? The candidate has no education or experience in the Water/Wastewater industry. Yet the candidate, and still commissioner gets to make decisions, along with the other two commissioners with no experience, to spend the town’s money on the most important utilities that the town has. It is insane!

Brief History of the Epping Wastewater/Water Facilities

I provide this information only so that you may be able to understand why the town is where it is today. Back in the 1960’s when Epping was a rural town with very little commercial and industrial activity, two large lagoons were built for basically a constructed wetlands treatment. It was the norm at the time for many towns in NH. Around the year 2000, the town and their engineer committed the first sin, in constructing a Membrane plant as opposed to a conventional treatment plant. Not to get into it deeply, but there is only one Membrane municipal wastewater treatment plant in NH to this day, and it is in Epping. Membrane plants are expensive to operate, not reliable, and frowned upon by the state. They are considered Innovative/Alternative (I/A) treatment and carry different permit requirements, as well as higher maintenance and replacement costs. Due to multiple violations and wastewater bypasses to the Lamprey River over the years, the EPA issued a Consent Order (CO), to “fix” the situation. I'm unsure of the date of the first consent order. So, the town and their current engineer, who has been involved with the town going on 10 years, made the choice to do an “Upgrade” with membranes from a different manufacturer, instead of going with conventional treatment. This is where the real insanity comes in. The membranes that were selected, manufactured in Germany, (Weise Membranes), have absolutely no track record of use in any municipal Waste Water Treatment Facility in the United States. They don’t exist! So, Epping became not just the only membrane plant in NH, it became the sole municipality in the United States employing Weise membranes in a Municipal environment. In short, they failed horribly!

The first of three Weise membranes was installed in March 2021. While there were two existing membranes also being used everything seemed OK. At that time there were already issues with the Weise membrane, but the State gave the town permission to purchase and install the remaining two Weise membranes. In October 2021, the Weise membrane completely failed, and yet the town and the engineer installed the other two new Weise membranes which also failed. Epping's Waste Water Treatment Facility bypassed millions of gallons of partially treated wastewater into the Lamprey River between December 2021 - March 2022, and then again from January - June 2023. The Lamprey River is a Federally protected river and supplies the town of Durham, NH and UNH with drinking water. In both instances the town of Durham had to suspend their use of the Lamprey for drinking water. Also, there was the issue with recreational use of the river that became a concern.

There is much more that can be said on how millions upon millions of dollars have been spent poorly only to put the town of Epping back in the same boat as in 2000! You are back to Zenon membranes, with some improvements yes, but it should be a plant that lasts for 30 - 40 years with normal maintenance.

All of what has been described should be a matter of Public Record. I suggest there be research into monies spent and why. Especially the cost of the only town engineering consultant for many years, only to end up where the town of Epping was 24 years ago!

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So, who decided to not report all the other "write-in" votes that were on the ballots which were ran through our voting machine?

Why haven't all those other write-in votes been reported on the Town's website or the Town's Facebook page, now two complete days after the election?

Was it our Town Moderator, Adam Munguia, who may not have followed up timely with reporting how many write-in votes, and who they were cast for?

We know there were many voters that wrote-in names on the ballots correctly. What gives? Is this another of the many errors and infractions that occurred at our Town elections on March 12, 2024?

https://www.townofepping.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8156/f/news/voting_final_count_20242.pdf

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Finally, a week after our Town elections on March 12th, our Town has posted on their Facebook page all the "write-in" votes that were cast. Here's the link to where you can pull up what was posted: https://www.facebook.com/eppingtownhall

What does the amount of $46,110,875.00 mean to you and every other resident (and taxpayer) of Epping?

Well for the majority of people that voted on Tuesday March 12th, in favor of all the Warrant Articles with dollars attached...this is the total combined Town and School SAU spending you committed everyone one of us to. $46.1 million dollars...for a Town of 7,443 residents. This equates to $6,196.20 per resident (regardless of age)...being spent.

So, if you're a family of four, our Town and Schools has committed to spending, on average...$24,780.80 on your household. Does that make sense? Isn't something significantly disproportionate? You bet it is.

When are voters in our Town going to realize our spending habits are not sustainable? There isn't any more $$ to be had in tax revenues to support the overspending that's been going on for years.

Ask yourself the how and why our Town's Operating Budget only passed by a 70 vote difference (829 Yes to 759 No) but the School SAU budget passed with a 118 vote difference (848 Yes to 730 No).

The obvious answer to how our School SAU Operating Budgets along with Teacher and Paraprofessional contracts are usually approved by voters is because of a very large voting block that out numbers everyone else in Town...plus the very large number of School SAU employees that live in our Town...mostly always vote in favor of normally whatever is placed before them.

Oh, and ask yourself who the largest employers are here in Town...

Market Basket - 400

Wal-Mart - 270

Epping Elementary and High Schools - 220

Lowe's - 135

McDonald's - 65

Errco - 30

Burger King - 25

Wendy's - 22

Abenaki Timber - 16

Surprised?

(source: https://www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi//products/cp/profiles-htm/epping.htm)

If you would like a breakout of the spending committed to on Warrant Articles by Epping voters on Tuesday March 12th, along with the vote tallies, etc., please email us at: eppingergi@gmail.com

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So...let's have a look at some of how our Town's spending panned out for last year, 2023.

Highway Department "Equipment Rental"

Budgeted $2,500.00

Spent $46,553.33

Over budget by 1,762.1%

Zoning Board "Postage"

Budgeted $200.00

Spent $3,149.29

Over budget by 1,474.7%

Sewer Operations "SWO Hosting Services"

Budgeted $145.00

Spent $2,046.44

Over budget by 1,311.3%

Board of Selectman "Professional Services"
Budgeted $100.00
Spent $850.00
Over budget by 750%

Sewer Operations "SWO Collection System"

Budgeted $5,000.00

Spent $41,042.21

Over budget by 720.8%

Town Administrator "Mileage"

Budgeted $100.00

Spent $800.72

Over budget by 700.7%

Personnel Administration "Advertising"

Budgeted $500.00

Spent $3,184.00

Over budget by 536.8%

General Assistance "Other Services"

Budgeted $250.00

Spent $1,400.00

Over budget by 460%

Sewer Operations "SWO Contractor Services"

Budgeted $30,000.00

Spent $153,368.31

Over budget by 411.2%

Transfer Station "Building Maintenance"

Budgeted $2,000.00

Spent $9,753.25

Over budget by 387.7%

Zoning Board "Advertising"

Budgeted $400.00

Spent $1,648.30

Over budget by 312%

Building Inspection "Contract Services"

Budgeted $500.00

Spent $1,950.00

Over budget by 290%

Water Operations "Distribution System"

Budgeted $25,000.00

Spent $94,988.82

Over budget by 280%

Highway Department "Salaries Part-Time"

Budgeted $5,000.00

Spent $17,357.00

Over budget by 247.1%

Sewer Operations "SWO Plant Repairs"

Budgeted $30,000.00

Spent $96,878.52

Over budget by 222.9%

Town Administrator "Training & Seminars"

Budgeted $100.00

Spent $291.80

Over budget by 191.8%

Personnel Administration "Premployment Screening"

Budgeted $250.00

Spent $679.89

Over budget by 172%

Highway Department "Equipment Maintenance"

Budgeted $25,000.00

Spent $65,585.00

Over budget by 162.3%

Fire and Rescue "Office Supplies"

Budgeted $5,400.00

Spent $14,093.23

Over budget by 161%

Sewer Operations "SWO Machinery & Equipment"

Budgeted $30,000.00

Spent $73,756.59

Over budget by 145.9%

Cemeteries "Cemetery Maintenance"

Budgeted $7,000.00

Spent $16,891.45

Over budget by 141.3%

Town Clerk "Office Supplies"

Budgeted $2,500.00

Spent $6,007.41

Over budget by 140.3%

Sewer Operations "SWO Generator Fuel Oil"

Budgeted $1,000.00

Spent $2,390.43

Over budget by 139%

Fire and Rescue "Contract Services"

Budgeted $810.00

Spent $1,914.00

Over budget by 136.3%

Water Operations "Vehicle Repair"

Budgeted $1,000.00

Spent $2,300.00

Over budget by 130%

Board of Selectman "Awards & Recognition"
Budgeted $1,000.00
Spent $2,293.87
Over budget by 129.4%

Recreation "Office Supplies"

Budgeted $300.00

Spent $654.37

Over budget by 118.1%

Water Operations "Training"

Budgeted $1,000.00

Spent $2,152.86

Over budget by 115.3%

Highway Department "Signs"

Budgeted $2,500.00

Spent $4,175.74

Over budget by 108.8%

Planning Board "Postage"

Budgeted $1,300.00

Spent $2,640.22

Over budget by 103.1%

Sewer Operations "SWO Vehicle Repairs"

Budgeted $1,500.00

Spent $2,978.62

Over budget by 98.6%

Water Operations "Hosting Services"

Budgeted $1,950.00

Spent $3,831.14

Over budget by 96.5%

Town Clerk "Training & Seminars"

Budgeted $400.00

Spent $757.00

Over budget by 89.3%

Building Inspection "Vehicle Fuel"

Budgeted $400.00

Spent $739.00

Over budget by 84.8%

Planning Board "Professional Services"

Budgeted $4,000.00

Spent $7,349.22

Over budget by 83.7%

Town Administrator "Office Supplies"
Budgeted $4,400.00
Spent $8,034.66
Over budget by 82.6%

Sewer Operations "SWO Vehicle Fuel"

Budgeted $1,500.00

Spent $2,725.74

Over budget by 81.7%

Water Operations "Vehicle Fuel"

Budgeted $1,500.00

Spent $2,692.41

Over budget by 79.5%

Animal Control "Impoundment Fees"

Budgeted $100.00

Spent $175.00

Over budget by 75%

Water Operations "Machinery & Equipment"

Budgeted $30,000.00

Spent $52,085.00

Over budget by 73.6%

Highway Department "Supplies"

Budgeted $3,500.00

Spent $5,986.42

Over budget by 71%

Water Operations "Well Monitoring"

Budgeted $20,000.00

Spent $32,800.00

Over budget by 64%

Town Administrator "NH Retirement"

Budgeted $10,115.00

Spent $16,546.91

Over budget by 63.6%

Police Department "Copier Leases"

Budgeted $3,600.00

Spent $5,827.49

Over budget by 61.8%

Fire and Rescue "Social Security"

Budgeted $26,000.00

Spent $41,779.48

Over budget by 60.7%

Safety Facility "Heating Fuel"

Budgeted $13,600.00

Spent $21,713.40

Over budget by 59.7%

Building Inspection "Vehicle Maintenance"

Budgeted $1,000.00

Spent $1,582.90

Over budget by 58.3%

Water Operations "Chemicals"

Budgeted $3,000.00

Spent $4,625.00

Over budget by 54.2%

Town Clerk "Copier Lease"
Budgeted $1,800.00
Spent $2,770.20
Over budget by 53.9%

Transfer Station "Hazardous Waste"

Budgeted $4,000.00

Spent $6,101.17

Over budget by 52.5%

Police Department "Office Supplies"

Budgeted $5,070.00

Spent $7,613.28

Over budget by 50.2%

Highway "Supplies"

Budgeted $900.00

Spent $1,347.76

Over budget by 49.8%

Highway Department "Vehicle Maint/Repairs"

Budgeted $35,000.00

Spent $52,351.13

Over budget by 49.6%

Fire and Rescue "Overtime"

Budgeted $40,000.00

Spent $59,982.45

Over budget by 49.37%

Sewer Operations "SWO Training"

Budgeted $1,000.00

Spent $1,493.08

Over budget by 49.3%

Property Insurance "Claims Expense"
Budgeted $5,500.00
Spent $7,414.22
Over budget by 48.3%

Town Hall "Repairs & Maintenance"

Budgeted $11,000.00

Spent $15,934.86

Over budget by 44.9%

Sewer Operations "SWO Internet Service"

Budgeted $2,600.00

Spent $3,725.79

Over budget by 43.3%

Water Operations "Electricity"

Budgeted $35,000.00

Spent $48,536.43

Over budget by 38.7%

Town Hall "Furniture"

Budgeted $2,500.00

Spent $3,465.88

Over budget by 38.6%

Sewer Operations "SWO Uniforms"

Budgeted $3,000.00

Spent $4,092.91

Over budget by 36.4%

Highway Department "Overtime"

Budgeted $40,000.00

Spent $53,754.55

Over budget by 34.4%

Fire and Rescue "Software Support"

Budgeted $8,020.00

Spent $10,754.39

Over budget by 34.1%

Police Department "Vehicle Fuel"

Budgeted $32,000.00

Spent $42,589.23

Over budget by 33.1%

Fire and Rescue "Salaries Part-Time"

Budgeted $409,440.00

Spent $541,630.70

Over budget by 32.3%

Sewer Operations "SWO Trash Hauling"

Budgeted $2,600.00

Spent $3,429.00

Over budget by 31.9%

Sewer Operations "SWO Propane"

Budgeted $1,500.00

Spent $1,975.97

Over budget by 31.7%

Sewer Operations "SWO Cleaning Services"

Budgeted $3,530.00

Spent $4,612.50

Over budget by 30.7%

Police Department "Vehicle Maint & Repairs"

Budgeted $25,000.00

Spent $32,649.58

Over budget by 30.6%

Watson Academy "Repairs & Maintenance"

Budgeted $7,500.00

Spent $9,783.87

Over budget by 30.5%

Water Operations "Emergency Repairs"

Budgeted $10,000.00

Spent $13,039.90

Over budget by 30.4%

Highway Department "Vehicle Fuel"

Budgeted $25,000.00

Spent $32,506.73

Over budget by 30%

Transfer Station "NH Retirement"

Budgeted $2,230.00

Spent $2,899.95

Over budget by 30%

Fire and Rescue "Fire Truck Maintenance"

Budgeted $25,000.00

Spent $32,472.69

Over budget by 29.9%

Transfer Station "Groundwater Monitoring"

Budgeted $7,900.00

Spent $10,200.00

Over budget by 29.1%

Water Operations "Uniforms"

Budgeted $3,000.00

Spent $3,763.73

Over budget by 25.5%

Planning Board "Copier Lease"

Budgeted $1,800.00

Spent $2,249.88

Over budget by 25%

Water Operations "Contractor Services"

Budgeted $20,000.00

Spent $24,889.90

Over budget by 24.5%

Recreation "Copier Lease"

Budgeted $1,500.00

Spent $1,840.18

Over budget by 22.7%

Transfer Station "Recycling Contractors"

Budgeted $90,000.00

Spent $108,930.81

Over budget by 21%

Sewer Non-Operating "WWTF Sewer Lagoon Project"

Budgeted $0

Spent $1,650,217.43

Over budget

Sewer Non-Operating "Membrane Project CIP001"

Budgeted $0

Spent $740,841.75

Over budget

Water Non-Operating "MTBE Water Main Extension-Water"

Budgeted $0

Spent $330,096.56

Over budget

Highway Department "Water Main Extension"

Budgeted $0

Spent $309,010.04

Over budget

Sewer Non-Operating "WWTF Membrane Upgrade Bond"

Budgeted $0

Spent $206,802.64

Over budget

Sewer Non-Operating "Membrane Project - MTBE Funds"

Budgeted $0

Spent $181,788.00

Over budget

Sewer Operations "SWO Hauling Services"

Budgeted $0

Spent $13,000.00

Over budget

Water Non-Operating "Water Treatment Project"

Budgeted $0

Spent $12,400.92

Over budget

Water Operations "Grant Expense"

Budgeted $0

Spent $4,500.00

Over budget

Transfer Station "Overtime"

Budgeted $0

Spent $4,395.02

Over budget

Highway Department "Drain Material"

Budgeted $0

Spent $2,426.53

Over budget

Animal Control "Postage"

Budgeted $0

Spent $1,108.90

Over budget

Planning Board "Training"
Budgeted $0
Spent $380.00
Over budget

Police Department "Vehicle Tolls"
Budgeted $0
Spent $156.50
Over budget

Well...on our Town Hall Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/eppingtownhall) to the left (if you're accessing this page on a mobile device, for most users, up above) was posted, at close to 11AM the morning of Thursday 1/25/24.

Maybe it's just us but at the bottom right side of the results for Democrats it shows 413 "TOTAL DEM Write-In" but when you add up the "Biden Write-In" of 349 and the "Other Write-In" of 9...that comes to 358. So just what does the difference of 55 from 413 to 358 indicate?

If the TOTAL DEM Write-In is 413, shouldn't that be the total of the 349 write-ins for Biden and the Other Write-Ins of 9...totaling 358?

Maybe someone from our Town Hall can clarify what appears to be a discrepancy of 55 'unknown' votes.

UPDATE FROM ABOVE - JAN 23 2024 ELECTION RESULTS

So this afternoon (Monday 1/29/24) there's now additional information posted on the Town's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/eppingtownhall?__cft__[0]=AZXVFnDI4ckdbAcSIW440NL7cHZvlf6cfd-a6zWPMVObakGrksJnYK325J2tCS3HSvU4BUJY5XuT4O1ouZQf2rbs8UFu3PtVAL1eRDdT-JU87pjO9xR-hnyIxzV-MRkHOrWf4dLD0OJV9UD41Cp8q36j63VneWONyIzpnfpLt6nCBaDaOyNeXueLTPvWXoPezFg&__tn__=-UC%2CP-R) what the vote details provided to the State, from this past Tuesday's Presidential Primary election voting results. Sadly there are still discrepancies on what was shared by the Town 4 days ago, with what Epping's vote tallies were...provided to the State (please see the first of two attached snapshots provided by the Town).

The first thing that jumps out at us is what was reported a couple days after the election, for Write-In votes on behalf of Mr. Biden of 349 actually shows up this afternoon with a lower count by 21 of only 328.

Secondly, Democratic Candidate Paul V. LaCava this afternoon now shows 1 vote, but nothing from last week's report. Plus, now the earlier missing 55 "other than Biden" Write-Ins votes are listed...but using this number in addition to what shows as of today, the 328 Biden Write-Ins, totals up to 383...not the "TOTAL DEM" Write Ins of 413 showing from last week (a difference of now 30 votes).

Overall this afternoon's data provided by the Town, of what they provided to the State, shows 556 votes off of the Epping Democratic ballot.

The question we all should asking is...what is going on here?

The Republican "apparently revised" totals show in the next post.

On the Republican ballot released today (Monday 1/29/24) now shows a vote for Tim Scott...and one for Rachel Swift...that didn't show up in what the Town posted last week (please see attached).

As someone from our Town mentioned last week:

That tally posted is wrong. Rachel Swift had one vote because we were missing it and couldn't find it but it was on the printout as clear as day. If the Town has no problem deleting a completely minor vote like this, what else are they willing to do?

So...what's the use of having any "local" Town boards, committees or commissions when the State of New Hampshire "Housing Appeals Board" can overturn any or all of our "local" decisions.

Regarding the proposed Martin Road Project (which now seems, decided by the State Housing Appeals Board that Gov. Sununu was so eager to establish just a few short years ago) we "local" taxpayers and residents are going to be forced to deal with.

Read the State's "Order" off the following Epping Town website's link:

https://www.townofepping.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8156/f/news/hab-order-2024-004_zba-2023-18_20240112_0.pdf

Now which of any of our Town's Boards, Committees and/or Commissions will take legal action to challenge the nonsense Gov. Sununu's Housing Appeals Board is forcing upon us?

Epping Taxpayers/Residents take note below:

From last night's Town Budget meeting (see it here from this link: https://epping.vod.castus.tv/vod/?video=d7631936-8e7b-45c8-9dec-bca23568c738&nav=programs%2FBudget%20Committee) be prepared to pay more in taxes than ever imaginable. When it's all added up, our Town and School SAU plan on committing us all to spending $45,512,287.00. Yes that's $45.5+ million dollars in spending and overall, taking in to account the expenses for additional employees for the following year plus the second and third year of multi-year contracts including the aggregate total of proposed multi-year lease agreements, voters will be asked to approve a total of $46,625,861.00.

Then take into account a Warrant Article for next year into the hundreds of thousands for the engineering cost of designing a new Water Treatment Plant and then most likely in 2026 another Warrant Article to fund/borrow upwards to $15 to $20 million dollars to build it.

Are you awake yet?

2022 Tax Rate per $1,000 of assessed property value: $22.49

Local Education (schools) - $15.18

As an example...for a home assessed at $500,000 the annual amount you would pay in taxes towards our schools is: $7,590 - an average of $632.50 per month.

Municipal (Town) - $5.17

Local Education (schools) - $15.18

As an example...for a home assessed at $500,000 the annual amount you would pay in taxes towards our Town's expenses is: $2,585 - an average of $215.42 per month.

State Education - $1.29

Local Education (schools) - $15.18

County (Rockingham): $0.85

As an example...for a home assessed at $500,000 the annual amount you would pay in taxes sent off for State Education expenses is: $645 - an average of $53.75 per month.

County (Rockingham): $0.85

Your Total Annual Property Tax

County (Rockingham): $0.85

As an example...for a home assessed at $500,000 the annual amount you would pay in taxes sent off for Rockingham County expenses is: $425 - an average of $35.42 per month.

Your Total Annual Property Tax

As an example...for a home assessed at $500,000 the annual amount you would pay in taxes all totaled up is: $11,245 - an average of $937.08 per month.

What do the following dollar amounts have in common?

$22,596,832

$753,631

$23,350,463

$2,279,005

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

$22,596,832 was last year's proposed School District (SAU14) operating budget

$753,631 was the total amount of the proposed School District (SAU14) 2-year Teacher's contract

$23,350,463 is last year's School District (SAU14) Operating Budget plus 2-year Teacher's contract

$2,279,005 is the proposed increase on this coming year's (2024) Town voting ballot you'll probably see in March...if the School Board gets away with their projected budget increase of 9.76%

Yes...that'll add up to $25,629,468. Over 25.6 million dollars to be spent in a years time for just under an enrollment of 900 students.

That's $28,477 per student, per year...whether it be a Kindergartner or a 12th grade senior.

Ask yourself, where is all this money going to come from? Aren't we as taxpayers in Epping already paying far in excess for continued overall poor educational results? Why don't we trim a couple million dollars in administrative expenses, etc. from the proposed projected $25,629,468 and try to make ends meet with what the current budget (which is also too high) of $23,350,463...and start working from a zero based budget every year. Zero-based budgeting (ZBB) is a method of budgeting in which all expenses must be justified for each new period. The process of zero-based budgeting starts from a "zero base," and every function is analyzed for its needs and costs. The budgets are then built around what is needed for the upcoming period, regardless of whether each budget is higher or lower than the previous one.

The Epping, NH Governmental Structure

Water & Sewer

Brief History of the Epping Wastewater/Water Facilities

UPDATE FROM ABOVE - JAN 23 2024 ELECTION RESULTS

Epping Taxpayers/Residents take note below:

2022 Tax Rate per $1,000 of assessed property value: $22.49

Local Education (schools) - $15.18

Local Education (schools) - $15.18

Local Education (schools) - $15.18

Municipal (Town) - $5.17

Local Education (schools) - $15.18

Local Education (schools) - $15.18

State Education - $1.29

Local Education (schools) - $15.18

County (Rockingham): $0.85

County (Rockingham): $0.85

Your Total Annual Property Tax

County (Rockingham): $0.85

Your Total Annual Property Tax

Your Total Annual Property Tax

Your Total Annual Property Tax

2023 Town Election - Looking closer at some of the vote totals

Epping reportedly endangering Durham drinking water and Lamprey River

2023 Town Election - Looking closer at some of the vote totals

Push for Workforce Housing in Epping - The Martin Road Project

Epping reportedly endangering Durham drinking water and Lamprey River

2023 Town Election - Looking closer at some of the vote totals

Epping reportedly endangering Durham drinking water and Lamprey River

Epping reportedly endangering Durham drinking water and Lamprey River

Epping reportedly endangering Durham drinking water and Lamprey River

Elected town official may have some explaining to do

Epping reportedly endangering Durham drinking water and Lamprey River

Epping reportedly endangering Durham drinking water and Lamprey River

POWERS of THE SELECTMEN: What can they lawfully do?

KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD: 20 Years Later Excerpt From March 2003 Epping Taxing Times

POWERS of THE SELECTMEN: What can they lawfully do?

NO AMOUNT TO BE RAISED FROM TAXATION?

KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD: 20 Years Later Excerpt From March 2003 Epping Taxing Times

POWERS of THE SELECTMEN: What can they lawfully do?

KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD: 20 Years Later Excerpt From March 2003 Epping Taxing Times

KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD: 20 Years Later Excerpt From March 2003 Epping Taxing Times

KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD: 20 Years Later Excerpt From March 2003 Epping Taxing Times

Voting Machine Failures - 2022 Town Election

KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD: 20 Years Later Excerpt From March 2003 Epping Taxing Times

KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD: 20 Years Later Excerpt From March 2003 Epping Taxing Times

INTEGRITY OF ZONING BOARD MEMBERS

INTEGRITY OF ZONING BOARD MEMBERS

INTEGRITY OF ZONING BOARD MEMBERS

SCHOOL CONTRACT

INTEGRITY OF ZONING BOARD MEMBERS

INTEGRITY OF ZONING BOARD MEMBERS

WELL WATER ISSUES

INTEGRITY OF ZONING BOARD MEMBERS

WELL WATER ISSUES

EYAA TAX BILL ?

INTEGRITY OF ZONING BOARD MEMBERS

WELL WATER ISSUES

ONLY YOU CAN LOWER YOUR TAXES

OUR SELECT BOARD CHAIRMAN TROMBLEY SLAPS US ALL IN THE FACE

BUDGET COMMITTEE - ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

BUDGET COMMITTEE - ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

OUR SELECT BOARD CHAIRMAN TROMBLEY SLAPS US ALL IN THE FACE

BUDGET COMMITTEE - ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

OUR SELECT BOARD CHAIRMAN TROMBLEY SLAPS US ALL IN THE FACE

OUR SELECT BOARD CHAIRMAN TROMBLEY SLAPS US ALL IN THE FACE

OUR SELECT BOARD CHAIRMAN TROMBLEY SLAPS US ALL IN THE FACE

EPPING STUDENTS BEING SETUP FOR FAILURE BY SCHOOL BOARD

OUR SELECT BOARD CHAIRMAN TROMBLEY SLAPS US ALL IN THE FACE

OUR SELECT BOARD CHAIRMAN TROMBLEY SLAPS US ALL IN THE FACE

Contact Us

Drop us a line!

Epping Residents for Government Integrity

PO Box 267 Epping, NH 03042

email: EppingERGI@gmail.com