Live Blogging the Tax Summit- Judy Tomlinson

Judy Tomlinson- Franklin Pierce University


Tomlinson outlined Franklin Pierce's status as a small, private university in Rindge, NH, with campuses in Concord, Lebanon, Manchester, and Portsmouth, and six masters degree programs in addition to its undergraduate program. It has 1715 full-time undergraduate students enrolled, and another 545 in its graduate programs. Tuition, fees, and room and board for 2009-2010 is $38,500.


Tomlinson says that the University is one of the largest property taxpayers in the region, adn the largest employer and taxpayer in Rindge, paying well over $500,000 in property taxes for the past three years. She estimates the University will pay over $580,000 in 2009, an increase of 10% in its total tax burden.


Tomlinson argues that New Hampshire is the only state to tax the private property of private colleges and universities, leading to a large cost to private higher education in the state. She says the University's cost of doing business is the biggest challenge it faces in New Hampshire.

Tomlinson is not recommending any specific alternatives to New Hampshire's tax structure.