Judy Thackaberry (D-Sunapee) - 10-12-26.mp3

So school funding is such a big topic now in politics.

And as a former teacher, what is your take? How do we fix school funding?

Well, I'm pretty much learning about that now, seeing the other side.

And learning that New Hampshire is the lowest state out of 50 to have their – state government fund public education, then you have to look at the whole budget and how is the tax structure working.

And then in recent years how the revenue coming into the state has been lowered like systematically for businesses, large businesses that make over a certain amount of money and corporations and dividends interest and dividend, all those kinds of taxes have been lowered without any option to replace that funding.

Therefore, the state says, well, we don't have any money.

We can't supply the money to the schools.

That's actually our responsibility.

So, therefore, that, as they're saying, gets downshifted to the towns.

And then the people in those towns start blaming the school board and start blaming the select board for spending too much.

But the state is actually not fulfilling their obligation.

Right.

So would it be your proposal? And I know if elected, you're brand new at this.

You've never run for state representative.

You're not an elected official.

So you're jumping in the water feet first and ready to go.

So would you support a measure on the state to better fund education? Or do you like the way that it's kind of on the local property owners to fund education?

I think if, as I was saying, if the state would come up with a formula where each town were given more funding, the local taxes would go down automatically.

Are you hearing a lot of people struggling with their taxes right now, or upset with how expensive everything

is? Yes.

It's hard.

I do knock doors.

Even though it takes a lot of time, I absolutely enjoy meeting my neighbors.

It's really fun.

Of course, I take them by surprise.