The New Hampshire Association
of
Village Districts

                What are Village Districts?

Village Districts or precincts constitute a special form of New Hampshire municipal government.  They are limited purpose governmental units that have the same authority and powers that New Hampshire towns have with respect to the purposes for which they were formed.

               Why are they formed?

In New Hampshire, under Revised Statute Annotated (RSA) 52, Village Districts are formed for any number of the following reason:

               1.    Extinguish fires.

               2.    Lighting or sprinkling streets.

               3.    The planting and care of shade or ornamental trees.

               4.    Water supply and protection for domestic and fire purposes.

               5.    Construction and maintenance of sidewalks, main drains and common sewers.

               6.    Construction, operation and maintenance of sewage and waste treatment plants.

               7.    Construction, maintenance and care of parks or commons.

               8.    Maintenance of activities for recreational purposes.

               9.    Construction or purchase and maintenance of a municipal lighting plant.

              10.    Control of pollen, insects and pests.

              11.    Impoundment of water (dams).

              12.    Appointment and employment of watchmen and police.

             13.    Layout, acceptance, construction and maintenance of roads.

             14.    Maintenance of ambulance services.

          RSA 52

RSA 52 is an evolving statute and several purposes included were not part of the original statute.  Control of pollen and insects was added in 1957, sewage and waste treatment plants in 1961, dams and roads in 1975, and ambulance services in 1977.

Village Districts hold annual meetings, elect officers and approve budgets, appropriations and resolutions in the same way that New Hampshire towns do.

Residents within some districts may pay an extra property tax to finance their operation.  Some districts, particularly water districts, may be self supporting in that the expense of running the services provided.  These districts do not need to raise taxes.

          How are they formed?

Village Districts are formed by petition to the Board of Selectmen or governing body of the parent municipality, of 10 or more legal voters residing within the proposed district.  The petition defines the physical boundaries that will encompass the District and the purposes for which it is being formed.  The voters establish the district by vote, name it, and elect officers to run it.

         Who are they?

In size, Village Districts range from a single street to dozens of square miles.  On scope, they run the gamut from major water and waste treatment facilities and fire departments, to maintenance of streets lights and beaches.  Annual budgets range from a few hundred dollars to several million.

          Where are they?

There  are approximately 90 Village Districts in the State of New Hampshire and they are scattered throughout the State.     Some Districts have been in existence for more than a hundred years.  One new district has been formed in each of the last three years.

Table of Village Districts Known to NHAVD

          Legislative Issues

Initial surveys to determine the need for an Association of Village Districts clearly indicated legislative issues as the top priority.  Because Village Districts are not widely understood, legislation is frequently passed without an assessment of the impact on Village Districts.

One of the more important purposes of the Association is to ensure the best interest of the Village Districts are preserved through the myriad of legislative changes that New Hampshire enacts each year.  The Executive Board monitors proposed legislation that is likely to impact Village Districts.  Association members have testified at numerous legislative hearings.  There are also a number of existing laws that need to be changed to benefit Village Districts. These range from Highway Block Grants, tax payment procedures from the parent municipality, capital reserve fund management, voter checklists and zoning issues.

          Financial Management

It is in everyone's best interest, particularly the District taxpayers, that all Village Districts be well managed.  With GASB 34, a new government accounting standard impacting all Districts in a major way, the NHAVD is working with the New Hampshire Government Finance Officer's Association and the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration to develop management and budgeting training programs.

"They Call It The Granite State"

Photograph by Mark Graffam