DISQUS

mayor · 1 year ago

When I moved into Derry 18 years ago the town had a mayor, she was working for the people. In order to keep the name of a town we had to remove her and put in a town council, instead of calling Derry a city.

The town council made up of supermarket clerks to unemployed bar owneres promised to lower the taxes if big buisiness came to town. Walmart, Victory supermarket, etc. etc. now the town looks like the inside of a mall with all the fast food . And no tax relief for the people. Not even trash removal.

The town/city is out of control, it looks like Lowell Mass but with trees. Time for a mayor some one we can hire and fire. Thats why we moved.

Ex RES · 1 year ago

AMEN

spk9114 · 1 year ago

And people ask "why did you move back to MA?" Answer twice the house for about a third of the taxes ! Good luck to the people of Derry

jim · 1 year ago

Folks, The taxes are unbearable in Derry and surrounding towns for the less fortunate, not for the realtors,lawyers,or big business interest. You people are the fools who allow them to manipulate town business that benefits ( you ); I mean them, forgive me folks. You are the fools that helped make this happen. I was a fool just like you, but I became simply brilliant after I moved out of what I thought was my home. I live better now, since I moved to an area that has just the basics for survival. I took a substantial pay cut when I moved out of Derry. Now, since I am know longer a fool like you, I can actually afford to take the family out to a dinner once in a while. So, I wish you all the best of luck, You are going to need it. There is know hope in praying for better in Derry, you will see nothing change, never,never,never,never,ever!

mom of three · 1 year ago

ok so....how about we have been taxed on 1,000 extra square feet b/c the assessor "measured wrong"... but it 's our problem now. When we told them about the inconsistancy they came back and measured... this resulted in decreased in assessment from $330,000 to 267,000 whats up with that.. ??SAME ON US!!!! we trusted them!!! crooks!!!
watch your back honest citizens of derry... dont trust those who should be looking out for you... now its too late to get anything back b/c "new bills are going out already.. " convenient huh???maybe we will see some relif in 2009.. if we didnt pay i am sure a lein would be put on our house but they are free to take our hard earned money.. especiallly in THIS ecomony.. THANKS DERRY>>XO

mom of three · 1 year ago

sorry about the spelling errors in last post.. i am a bit tired and stressed :) i meant to say "shame on us": for trusting the accessor...

Jim · 1 year ago

I forgot to mention too, that having all the different services that the public has to pay for even when it doesn't benefit them is just plain insane. I think that a fee should be given to the people that use such services. A couple things come to mind; sports, extracurricular activities and such. Maybe the LIBERTARIAN party could step in and educate the public and the town council on the the appropriate spending techniques that will create a fair foundation for your town to prosper. With out a fair structure to sit on, there will never be a balance; and the integrity of the structure will continue to collapse year after year. If you have a simple user fee set in to play,; it would solve the whole problem. I'm surprised that your local democrats and republicans couldn't work together as people and figure this out. VERY SIMPLE FOLKS.

Michelle · 1 year ago

I'm not thrilled with the taxes in Derry either, however Jim, I pay for the pleasure of having Town Water and Town Sewer services. I also pay for my child for my child to play rec sports and I assure you, it's not cheap. I also pay for many extracurricular activities by paying fees and such that you do not see. On top of that, I pay my $4600 a year in property taxes for my postage sized lot. I could go on for hours with the whoa is me attititude, however, my child will receive a Pinkerton education. By the way folks, Pinkerton is a nationally recognized high school by many colleges throughout the country. When you say you went to Pinkerton it does carry more weight. When my son gets out of school, I will still be willing to pay my taxes so that some other person's child has the benefit of attending quality schools.

I do believe that we do need some new blood involved in the Town Council starting with getting rid of Mr. Stenhouse and moving down the line.

Derryite · 1 year ago

Heres the secret folks. The "educated" people running the "town" feel that if the taxes are high enough and the town allowes building to continue, the only people who could afford to live in Derry would be the elite.
The problem is the elite do not shop at walmart, if they do shop there they are not elite. The town is full of fake people who wish to come across as the better off class. There is alot of forclosures in these little communities throughout Derry.
Here is a subject the elite can bring up in their little progessive neighborhood meetings, when they break out the fake china and chrystal. WHY IS THERE SO MANY SEX OFFENDERS MOVING IN THE DERRY. DO A SEARCH. As they sip out of their 10 dollar bottle of wine. Yes these meetings do go on. aka housepoor meetings.

Derryite · 1 year ago

Sorry to say Derry will never be a Bedford or Windham, Pinkerton is not that much of a value to the town.... Sorry.

Property tax watcher · 1 year ago

I think Derry needs to be careful not to run everyone out of town (except apartment complexes who seem to have it made) by having the highest property tax in New Hampshire. I think if Derry continues to raise property tax, the should consider a cap.

unhappy · 1 year ago

AMEN

I want to leave · 1 year ago

The taxes are getting out of control in Derry. I moved to Derry to have the American dream of homeownership. I bought a dump, we have slowly been fixing it up. Every year my taxes go up and up, but what do I get for it? NOTHING. My taxes are up to $5800! I have a 1700 sq. ft. ranch. Nothing fancy, just a roof over my head. I just dont get it.

Unlucky homeowner · 1 year ago

Derry needs a head tax like Salem. If Derry started a head tax/residence tax every one in town would have to pay. Now I know the home owners pay more than their share but...... If there was a residence tax all the renters would have to pay into they system. Lets say 20 dollars per person per house per year.

Your going to say well the renters cant afford that, or they rent because they cant afford a house. Or you may say the renters pay their share in their rent. My taxes are 600 a month how many renters are paying that much on top of their rent for taxes. A renter with 4 kids does not help the town. And they go to Pinkerton for free.

Its the towns fault, sounds like some kick back is going on with the builders and the people running the town. Dont worry more business in town will lower the taxes. Ha...

Mad · 1 year ago

Not only that, if I'm not mistaken, one of the BIG apartment complex owners never pays his taxes then when it catches up with him he only pays pennies on the dollar. COME ON fair? I think not

Mad as well · 1 year ago

Derry previously had a head tax and then for some reason discontinued it. I agree with you Mad about the apartment complex taxes. Maybe the way the tax valuation on these types of property should be revamped. If I understand it correctly, they pay tax on the net amount they claim after repairs, etc. are deducted from the total amount. Doesn't seem fair to me.

Lisa · 1 year ago

I agree with "Unlucky Homeowner". Why isn't there a head tax? Why is the entire burden on the homeowner? I pay over $6500 a year for property taxes and I have no children in the school system and never did. Renters are moving here for the schools and with this how long do you think Pinkerton's reputation will remain in good standing.

What are we all waiting for to get this accomplished? How do we start the process? I can't see how or why this has not happened yet. Let's relieve some of the burden the homeowner is carrying and shift some of the weight to the renter.

Tom · 1 year ago

About the only thing Derry has going for it is Pinkerton and the people with higher incomes will certainly choose Chester and Hampstead over Derry; lower taxes and nicer properties. Between Payless Shoe, Walmart, Dollar Bills and the now infamous "get your knockoff purse at the Grandview fleamarket" this town's continuing on its downwards spiral while taxes keep going up. We have a quaint mainstreet that the town claims it spent $1 million dollars on and seems to me we got some new sidewalks and that's about it. I see no reason why the town can't attract some higher end shops to get the local economy stimulated and maybe some decent businesses would follow and offset the taxes. Does Derry have a "Christmas on Mainstreet?" No, of course it doesn't, there's nothing on Mainstreet. Lowell is looking better than Derry these days. With no kids my taxes pay for basic services and in the meantime my wife keeps dragging me to Portsmouth, Nashua and Concord to shop where I can spend what disposable cash I have left to stimulate someone else's economy. As soon as the market recovers my house is going up for sale. Guaranteed someone with a couple of kids will buy it and the vicious circle continues.......

unlucky home owner · 1 year ago

Heres the problem, Derry will never have highend shops, Never.
Why.. due to Walmart. Do you think people who shop at China-Mart want to spend money in a high end store or want to compete with China-Mart?
The sidwalks are a brick stamp in a bed of tar with red paint, very classy. Its like China-Mart putting fake wood floors in to compete with target.

Dont worry the big buisiness will lower our taxes, ohhh wait how can they, they get a tax break for coming here. Home owners pay more for their homes in taxes than some buisiness owners.

And the more they build these big homes the less we have a chance on selling ours.

Derry needs a head tax.

Jim · 1 year ago

The Derryite is on the right track when it comes to the Elite people. What blows my mind about the Elite population is that many of them are wealthy because of deceit or were born with a Silverspoon in their mouth. Many hard working honest people with money or not seem to take a constant beating because They are the ones that couldn't imagine being crooked and untruthful to others. I think that certain folks that run for office are running in hopes of bettering their wallet and not yours. Honestly folks, who do you see on many of the town boards ? I see an awful lot of Realtors or friends of Realtors ; and why may that be ? My guess is as good as yours. They certainly are the Elite , maybe not so educated. So just keep watching your town disappear into a dealers pocket. We have all been taught to be cautious of dealers. I would like to have a little feedback from the Dealers point of view if they"re not too busy wheelin' with their close pals. That includes the honest dealers too. Thank you.

christine · 1 year ago

I agree with you unlucky,When I moved here there were lovely shops along broadway,and look what happened to the Hallmark store! Walmarts isn`t cheap and if you do some comparison shopping you will find market basket is way lower on groceries,paper,and cleaning products.Walmarts is a nightmare and look at all the pharmacys!whats with that! I agree with haveing a head tax ,with 4 people in my home thats 80$ a yr and if it lowered my taxes by even 200$ that would be a help

derryite. · 1 year ago

I love it, some one else noticed. How can we tell our kids to stay off drugs when derry has so many drug stores. Derry is a city and needs a mayor. One person to hold accountable.

I agree walmart is exspensive, they corner the market then start to raise prices. Dont worry more business in town will lower our taxes.

Tom · 1 year ago

why are the rates going up?
we the poeple move here to get away from mass taxes and ect .

s0c · 1 year ago

Pinkerton is NOT what it used to be. It has one of the highest dropout rates not only in NH but the country. It's an over priced, mismanaged liability.

I have lived in Derry for 30 yrs. I came here when the town had 1 traffic light and you could still go through the tiwn without lines of cars.

There are too many renters .. do you know why one of the worst complexes, The Fairways, is named that? Because it was supposed to be a golf course.but crooked town management sold out the public. That place is a haven ofor drug dealers and other leaches on the public.

I'm a single parent of 2. I pay nearly 6600 in prop taxes. This is the first yr in 30 yrs, I can't pay it.

I can't wait to move out of here, but with the cost of everything and the depreciation, I'd have to walk away and abandon my home. Thank you crooks of Derry Town Hall.