Rochester Concerned Taxpayers » News

Rochester Taxpayers Attend Slots Meeting

Admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:27:19 +0000

Gaming official woos public in Rochester with plan for slot machines
Fosters

ROCHESTER — A Millennium Gaming executive showed his hand to the public Wednesday night when he openly discussed a proposal to build a casino with 5,000 slot machines at Rockingham Park in Salem.

Millennium Gaming executive Bill Wortman owns and operates casinos in Las Vegas and Pennsylvania and would like to expand his business into New Hampshire, if legislation is passed to expand gambling. At a public meeting organized by Sen. Jackie Cilley, D-Barrington, Wednesday night, he laid out his proposal and defended gambling from what detractors point to as its more unsavory aspects.

Robert Gates, president of the Rochester Concerned Taxpayers Association, attended and openly questioned the theory that casino revenues would lower his property tax bill.

Gates also opined that, aside from the other perceived unsavory aspects of gambling, “the allure of riches” might also lead people to gamble away disposable income instead of contributing to philanthropic efforts. Gates is on the board of advisers for the local Salvation Army.

Perhaps there were not many opponents there because NH residents had little notice of this meeting.

The article further stated that “The University of New Hampshire’s Carsey Institute will organize small group discussions on this issue in 11 communities on February 13. Rochester and Portsmouth will both host such gatherings. The results of the discussions will go to the Gov. John Lynch’s Study Commission on Expanded Gaming.”

RCTA to host candidate forums

Admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:07:50 +0000

October 16, 2009
Fosters

ROCHESTER — The Rochester Concerned Taxpayers Association announces two “Meet The Candidates” forums. They invite all Rochester citizens to attend, including renters.

The RCTA invites incumbents and challengers for the city council and mayoral positions to the first forum on Monday, Oct. 19, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the VFW Hall, 43 Highland St. in East Rochester.

On Thursday, Oct. 29, the second forum will be held at the same location and the same time for the School Board and Police Commission candidates.

State Representative Warren Groen and his brother, Fenton, have agreed to moderate the two forums.

According to an RCTA press release, MetroCast will record these events and rebroadcast them on Rochester’s Government Channel 26 before Election Day.

At the Main Street Octoberfest event on Saturday, Oct. 10, the RCTA will have a table for the purpose of having Rochester residents write questions for the candidates of the various offices. Questions will be submitted to the moderators to ensure that duplicates are omitted and all questions are polite, diplomatic and relevant. You are also encouraged to write your questions before Oct. 10, and submit them to the RCTA via e-mail at inforochestertaxpayers.org or send them to the RCTA, 47 Walnut St., Rochester NH 03867. Questioners do not need to sign their names to the questions.

The RCTA encourages all Rochester citizens to participate in these informational and educational forums.

Rochester will borrow up to $6.3m for two big projects

Admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:57:36 +0000

July 8, 2009
Fosters

ROCHESTER — Councilors unanimously agreed to borrow up to $6.325 million for two separate projects — a new water treatment plant and well in the city and construction on Washington Street — with the provision nearly half the cost would be offset by federal stimulus funds.

On June 2 and 16, councilors approved the two projects during the regular meeting and a workshop, respectively, but city officials were not aware the N.H. Department of Environmental Services decided to administer both as state loans, with part of the cost offset by federal funds before the first payment on the loans need to be made, according to City Manager John Scruton.

As a result of Tuesday’s meeting, the council rescinded the two previous approvals to seek state and federal funds, but allowed the city’s proposals to go before Gov. John Lynch and the Executive Council July 15.

Rochester water and sewer rate hikes approved: Other nonbudget items addressed

Admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:45:17 +0000

June 18, 2009
Fosters

ROCHESTER — Beyond passing the fiscal year 2010 budget Tuesday night, the City Council also approved water and sewer rates for the upcoming year and accepted grant money for the $2.4 million Neighborhood Stabilization Project.

Pay what it costs for water and sewer service

Admin — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:51:44 +0000

June 12, 2009
Fosters

Rochester has to bite the bullet on this one.

Little in life is free. Neither the air we breathe, the energy with which we control the climate in our homes, the land on which we live, nor the water we use and dispose.

Rochester residents can expect a boost in their water and sewer rates next month. The city’s Utility Advisory Board has recommended a hike in rates each year for the next six years. It is not a minor increase either. Sewer rates are already running ahead of water rates. The proposal made by the UAB would see the sewer rate jump 8 percent and the cost of water rise 3.8 percent.

It costs more to let the water run down the drain or flush it than it does to buy it — and it appears the gap will continue to increase.

Taxes are rising and so, too, are fees. Water and sewer fees are most obvious of all and affects residents and businesses throughout the city.