Taking a page from businesses that often leverage the threat of picking up and moving offices and jobs out of state unless certain tax breaks and incentives are provided, a group of Vermont residents in Howell Center are making a similar pitch.
Calling themselves “Leaving Howell”; a group of 20-25 households in Howell Center (part of Howell Falls) have signed and published a pledge to sell out and relocate to New Hampshire. The group’s major concerns — maintaining public infrastructure: roads, local aging sewage treatment plants, and reliable broadband service — carry state wide implications for commerce.
They draw a contrast between the millions of dollars and attention lavished on out-of-state and in-state businesses (programs difficult for the state to audit). This they say happens even while many local concerns that could be addressed with equal vigor by Vermont state agencies are given only scant and piecemeal attention.
“The entire state would benefit if Howell and other towns were actively managing these challenges. State development agencies should refocus on local municipal needs and problems” said Percy Alleline, the group’s spokesperson. “If tax incentives and grants can be used to supposedly lure and retain out-of-state businesses here, why not a similar effort for Vermont’s small town residents’ needs?” Alleline added that Leaving Howell membership almost doubled in size after news spread last year about the Agency of Commerce and Community Development’s plan to give young out-of-state professionals $10,000 to move here and work remotely online. “For many, that personalized relocation program and the accompanying advertising blitz was a last straw — and anger turned to action.” Group members have observed that craft brewed beer can help but will not save us.
Few people in Howell Falls doubt that the problems facing small towns require state help, but some are uneasy with this level of activism. While development officials say it is unlikely all of the group would pack up and leave en masse for New Hampshire, the threat is not taken lightly by town selectman worried about their property tax base. “A loss of even one or two households in town could affect our tax base.’
The Howell Register in an opinion piece agrees with the organization’s overall goals but doubts their methods. They believe few are likely to scuttle across the Connecticut River to Live free or Die. Four of the group’s principals — Percy Alleline, William Haydon, Royce Bland and Tobias Esterhase are large land and business owners. The Register concluded “… there are three of them and Alleline that are seventh generation residents… real Vermont ‘Howellers’. ”