Selectmen Reject Proposal for $5 Registration Fee

Selectmen rejected a proposal for a $5 vehicle registration fee Monday that would have helped fund roadway maintenance in town.

The proposal was presented to the board by Finance Director Jane Savastano and Town Clerk Susan Wall.

According to Savastano, the town has the ability to increase fees per an RSA adopted by the town in 1997. She said that towns such as Dover, Derry, Bedford and Claremont charge the full $5 to fund transportation projects.

"I just thought it was worth bringing it forward given the emphasis on roads and Salem's efforts to reconstruct and have a pretty sizable road program," Savastano said. "This could offset some of the costs through that."

Selectman Patrick Hargreaves was not in favor of the proposal, saying that he wants to keep everything down for residents as much as possible. 

Agreeing with him was Selectman Stephen Campbell.

"The goal of the majority of the board was to have zero percent tax increase," Campbell said. "Whether it's a tax or a fee, people have to pay it."

Had the board endorsed the proposal, the fee would have gone to Town Meeting in March.

During the last election, voters backed $5,336,899 for road construction and engineering.