NH House Republicans Release Study Showing Cost of Car Tax by Town
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 11:30AM 
Manchester taxpayers paid nearly $3 million, Nashua $2.5 million
CONCORD – House Republicans, led by House Speaker William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) and Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem) today released a report, compiled by the Office of Legislative Services using data provided by the Department of Safety, outlining the impact of the car registration surcharge of $30 and more on residents of individual communities. The massive fee increase, included as a temporary surcharge in the last biennial budget passed by Democrats in 2009, but renewed in Governor Lynch’s proposed budget this year, was eliminated in the current budget by House Republicans.
The report shows the communities hit hardest by this major new cost of driving were: Manchester ($2.927 million), Nashua ($2.5 million), Concord ($1.054 million) and Derry ($1.052 million). Salem has a Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) substation that accrued $1.054 million in surcharge funds. Other communities seeing large costs to residents and business in car fee increase funds include Londonderry ($958K), Rochester ($871K), Merrimack ($844K), Hudson ($828K), Dover ($776K), Bedford ($675K), Portsmouth ($631K), Hampton ($520K), Goffstown ($519K) and Keene ($514K). The report showing the impact on each town and city in New Hampshire can be accessed at www.NHHouseG OP.com/cartax.
“This report outlines just how this major cost to drive is impacting cities and towns across the state. At a time when gas prices are at or near all-time record highs, keeping this huge expense for our citizens to keep their cars on the road makes no sense whatsoever. We must make sure this car tax disappears, and doesn’t come back,” said O’Brien.
“Getting rid of this surcharge on driving was a top priority of House Republicans. The Democrats continue to feel that they can tax and spend, with no end in sight, but the voters sent a clear message in November – there must be a stop to the fiscally reckless policies of the last four years. The House budget gets rid of this big government "artifact" and gets us back on the road toward fiscal sanity,” added Bettencourt.