New Hampshire: The Real Facts

Citizens have the right to know how their tax dollars are being spent each year. With Keene residents facing a combined city/county/school property tax increase of 8 % for 2008-2009 and continually spiraling local food, oil, and gasoline costs, this has become critically important.

For comparison, here is a list of 2007 earnings for top employees in Manchester, NH city departments, as well as the Manchester Transit Authority and Manchester Housing and Redevelopment Authority. It includes all earnings, including salary, overtime and extra detail pay.

And here is the list of the top 2008?2009 budgeted salaries for the Manchester School District. It reflects base pay, but doesn't include stipends or bonus pay educators receive for special duties, such as advisors for school activities.

The data was published by the Manchester Union-Leader newspaper.

One cannot help but wonder how the city of Keene compares? Will the Keene Sentinel publish similar data? Will anyone else? What do you think?