Notices:
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Furnace rules not done yet - meeting to discuss will be on January 17 at 6:00 PM in the Conference Room under the Library.
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You are invited!
Film & Forum on the
OPIATE & HEROIN EPIDEMIC
Sat., January 28, 7 p.m.
Bess O'Brien, award winning filmmaker,
Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counsellor Donlon Wade,
Enfield Police Chief Richard Crate and more
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Can't Get Internet Services in Canaan? We want to hear from you!
 If you cannot access internet service in Canaan, please do us a favor and answer a short survey by clicking here.
No personal information will be shared.The email address will allow us to contact you if we find solutions.
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THERE IS A SCHOOL DISTRICT WIDE MEETING ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 AT 7 PM AT CANAAN HALL BY THE FAIRGROUNDS. IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND WE EXPECT MANY PEOPLE TO ATTEND FROM OTHER TOWNS.
THE ENFIELD LISTSERV HAS MANY COMMENTS. SOME REFLECT UNDERSTANDING. OTHERS ARE NEGATIVE. STILL OTHERS ARE INACCURATE.
CANAAN HAS BEEN ASKED TO HOST A MEETING DEVOTED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THAT IS THE MEETING THIS SUNDAY.
PLEASE ATTEND TO LEARN WHAT IS PROPOSED.
PLEASE ATTEND TO HEAR WHAT OTHER TOWNS THINK AND IN PARTICULAR, WHAT ENFIELD, WHICH HAS THE MOST TAX IMPACT, THINKS.
The minutes and handouts of the December 27th meeting are attached here.
In Canaan, the school tax rate went up a total of 43.8% over 3 years. Obviously, this is much higher than the rate of inflation that was about 5% over the last three years.
The Canaan Board identified a number of strategies that have been suggested by the community and developed by the Board of Selectmen.
These were discussed with 4 of the 5 Mascoma Towns.
The two primary ideas discussed on December 6 and December 27 were:
1. Change the way that school board members are elected.
WHAT'S NEW SINCE LAST WEEK.
CURRENTLY ALL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE ELECTED AT LARGE BY ALL OF THE VOTERS FROM ALL 5 TOWNS. WHILE THERE WAS A DRAFT PROPOSAL TO MAKE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ELECTED BY THE VOTERS OF THE TOWN THEY ARE FROM, THE TOWN OF CANAAN BOARD OF SELECTMEN ARE DROPPING THIS EFFORT FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST THE VOTING STRENGTH OF THE SMALL TOWNS WOULD DROP FROM 14% TO 4% WHICH IS TOO RADICAL A CHANGE AND SECOND, THE PETITIONED ARTICLE WOULD REQUIRE MORE THAN 600 SIGNATURES BY NEXT TUESDAY WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE.
THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT WE HOPE THAT SINCE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS MUST BE FROM A SPECIFIC TOWN, THAT THE MEMBERS FROM A GIVEN TOWN SHOULD BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE TOWN THEY ARE FROM.
2. Change the formula for allocation the expenses of the School District,
The second suggestion is to shift the funding formula back to what it was in 1984. Today, the cost is allocated solely by the number of kids from each town. The proposal is to change that formula to include two different factors. The amount to be raised would be based in part on an allocation of costs based on the kids served from each town and in part on the equalized property values in each town. This blended formula is used in 20 of the 33 cooperative school districts. Canaan now pays $20.66 per thousand and Dorchester pays $9.57 per thousand. The difference in rates for those two towns is more than $10 per thousand. While we have wildly different rates, we all have kids in the same school and the costs district wide are all the same. The difference is Enfield and Dorchester have more than $1 million dollars of property value per student and Canaan and the other towns have about $780,000. When it comes to decisions to spend more, it is easier to increase the $15 tax rate in Enfield or the $9 rate in Dorchester than it is to increase the $20 dollar rate in Canaan. Canaan's rate is the 6th highest rate in New Hampshire. We have homeowners who believe they will lose their homes. They can't afford the taxes and there is currently no sales market for property due to the high tax rates. The blended tax allocation is used in the overwhelming number of cooperative districts. Forcing a poor town to pay such a high tax rate forces tax payers in the communities with less property wealth to rebel against budgets and increases.
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 COMMUNITY MARKET UPDATE
During the final phase of planning the Community Market, there were fewer than 10 farmers who were interested in participating. There were only five in attendance after urging farm vendors to show up and sign up. As a result of the low turnout, the committee decided to discontinue the effort to create a community market.
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The Town of Canaan Budget Committee is holding its Budget Hearing this coming THURSDAY, JANUARY 12 AT 7:30 AT THE CANAAN FIRE STATION ON ROUTE 118.
Please attend to hear the presentation and to ask questions.
It is anticipated that there will be no tax rate as a result of the proposed budget or warrant articles to buy equipment or put money into Capital Reserves.
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Happening this week:
Full Details and all the upcoming Events available on the Town Website.
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Shop Local:
In response to your feedback, all advertising will now be included at the end of this mailing service. Local business is important,and part of who we are as a town. The Town is working hard to increase local commercial activity to reduce property taxes. That said, we understand that it should hold its own place for those more interested in the news.
We hope that more businesses will take the opportunity to let local people know about the services and sales that could be of benefit to Canaan residents. All ads are free, and may include photos.If your business would like to advertise here, please email a word document (or other editable format) to townadmin@canaannh.org. Advertising is limited to Canaan Businesses, and businesses must present copy that appropriate to a general audience. All ads are subject to approval.The Town reserves the right to restrict overuse.
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