By Margo Sullivan
margosullivan@eagletribune.com
July 01, 2009 01:48 am HAMPSTEAD — This summer is bringing nothing but bad news for campers, who are being hit with unexpected taxes on top of bad weather. Times are especially tough in Hampstead, according to Gregg Pitman, executive director of the New Hampshire Campground Owners Association. Hampstead selectmen recently voted to bring back the camper tax, Pitman said. That tax comes due today. Also, the Legislature increased the state rooms and meals tax from 8 percent to 9 percent and expanded it to include campsite rental fees. That also takes effect today. Hampstead's personal property tax was collected from campers regularly up until the 1980s, according to Selectman Patricia Lindquist. The tax rate is $22.22 per $1,000 of valuation. Although it will only tack an extra $100 or so on most campers' summer bill, it already has resulted in cancellations, according to Sunset Park campground owner Bob Nugent. Some of his regular customers already have given up their campsites, Nugent said, although he's convinced most of his customers will "stick it out." The New Hampshire Campground Owners Association does not keep statistics on the local taxes, and Pitman could not say how many communities assess personal property taxes for parking a recreational vehicle at a campground. But statewide, other campground owners are worried taxes will force them out of business, Pitman said. He said his organization is studying state laws to see if campers would qualify as residents and avoid at least the state tax if they stay at a campsite for 185 days. "We don't want to become trailer parks," he said. But the longer season is an option campground owners may have to consider, he said. "We're hearing a lot of concern, especially from the seasonal and smaller campground owners," Pitman said. "Reservations keep going out the door and it's raining. That's on top of coming into a fairly flat year with the economy." Even thriving campground owners worry people will cancel at the last minute. "They don't know if they'll survive," he said. Based on a seasonal rate between $2,000 and $2,500, Nugent figures the state tax will add $200 to $250 to a camper's bill. That's not enough extra to make most people quit, but some of his customers "are probably going to have to consider not camping anymore," he said. The personal property taxes range from $30 to more than $300, according to the tax collector's office. Hampstead's Suzanne Reynolds, who owns Sanborn Shore Acres with husband, David, estimates the town tax will add $120 to $300 to their customers' annual vacation costs. That, however, is not as onerous as the state tax, she said. Reynolds did not want to give her prices, but said the room and meals tax alone will cost their average seasonal customer an extra $259. Some will wind up paying an extra $500. "It will impact (our business) tremendously," she said. "Our campers aren't going to be able to afford that. They're all middle-class people trying to afford a vacation for their families." She said they may consider selling their business if customers can't afford to pay the extra taxes. Reynolds said most of her customers are seasonal, and the seasonal campgrounds will be hit hard. Campgrounds which do short-term business will not see the impact, she predicted. Hampstead has three campgrounds, according to Town Clerk Patricia Curran. Reynolds and Pitman said the personal property tax amounts to double taxation because campers already pay vehicle registration. But that's not true, according to Lindquist, because the personal property tax is not necessarily just for the vehicle. "It's the porches, the kitchens and everything on the lot," she said. "It's not a new tax." Lindquist said the decision to bring back the camper tax boiled down to an issue of fairness. "They're taxable property, and it's not fair to the other people," she said. "There are other stick-built summer residences in town, and those owners pay taxes." ÔÇæÔÇæÔÇæ Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.
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