Intermunicipal water districts

Now That SB11 Has Passed…

September 26, 2018May 30, 2013

by Steve MacDonald

SB 11 was widely embraced by the New Hampshire House, which means there will be plenty of blame to go around. While we wait, let us reminisce about an effort back in 2010 to do one of the things we suggested that SB11’s broad language might empowers new intermunicipal water districts to do. From CNHT.org … Read more

Questions Relating to SB 11

September 26, 2018May 10, 2013

by Steve MacDonald

Senate Bill 11 made its way to the House consent Calendar without resistance. It was there that it the bill was then pulled from consent and briefly debated the following day, and put on probation for two weeks. It will be back. But how did it get as far as it did given language so … Read more

When It Rains it Pours

September 26, 2018May 7, 2013

by Steve MacDonald

rain

As an after-thought to my post on SB 11 yesterday–which has stirred up some interest around the Grokosphere and well beyond–I went looking for some details about the environmentalist/regionalist motivations with regard to water and sewer. It is a huge subject many parts of which we’ve touched on at the Grok already; you might say the socialist/central planner/ enviro-crowd is all-in on controlling water as the next best means to controlling us; so I’ll focus on the one thing that caught my eye while surfing (ha!) for details on the latest progressive New Hampshire-bureaucratic water grab.

SB-11 Everyone Votes Yea So Far…But Should We Say Nay?

September 26, 2018May 6, 2013

by Steve MacDonald

A reader brought this to my attention. SB-11. It would allow for enhanced water districts via neighboring towns or municipalities to form intermunicipal water or sewer districts above and beyond (in addition to) existing ones, for the purpose of shared interests with regard to these utility services.

A few problems that come to my attention immediately. First, there is a new “regional” board or commission for every association of towns or cities who cooperate under this bill to address projects of regional interest; another board spending money should be viewed with suspicion. Second, they will be able to bond debt; another board with the power to create debt should be viewed with suspicion. Third, it is not clear whether people who do not use water or sewer might still be on the hook for assessments or fees collected to fund this new level of municipal government.