Jessica Wheeler Russell of Penacook, who sits on the board of Merrimack County School District, spoke briefly to begin the testimony when the Rand trial opened last week. She told the court she regularly took calls or had conversations with her constituents asking what could be done to stem the ever-rising rate of the school property tax.
In particular, she said that elderly homeowners, many living on fixed incomes, were fearful of losing their homes. As a school board member, she said the challenge of preparing school budgets that provide students with the education they deserve without overburdening taxpayers has become greater year by year.
The first week of testimony featured two former school superintendents, John Freeman of Pittsfield and Corrine Cascadden of Berlin, both with decades of experience as classroom teachers and school administrators. Attorneys representing the state challenged the appearance of both as expert witnesses, questioning their qualifications only to be overruled by Judge David Ruoff.
Read more at NH Business Review.
