Yes, but those taxes are going towards additional services you wouldn’t get if you lived in rural Rockingham, like a full time police department or a water/sewer department. On the other hand, property values are probably higher outside of the villages because the houses are bigger and have more land.

They are separate taxes. Say, for instance, the Town of Rockingham's tax rate is $1.50 and the Village of Bellows Falls' tax rate is $1, then a homeowner in Bellows Falls would pay $1.50 for every $1000 their home is valued at for taxes to the Town of Rockingham, and then an additional $1 for every $1000 their home is valued at to the Village of Bellows Falls. A homeowner in Rockingham but outside of Bellows Falls or Saxton's River only pays the $1.50 per $1000 tax rate.

BFPD only serves the Village of Bellows Falls and is funded by taxes levied on Village property owners. The same goes for other village services, such as the fire department and water/sewer departments. All of these services are technically managed through the elected village trustees.

Rockingham has another village, Saxton’s River, and just like Bellows Falls, they have their own village services paid for by village property owners and managed by the elected village trustees.

The rest of Rockingham outside of the two villages is considered “rural Rockingham” and any services provided to them are funded by general town property taxes, which are paid by every town property owner, including those in Bellows Falls and Saxtons River. The Town Selectboard manages these services.

Plead not guilty, go to court, present your argument as to why you aren’t guilty. If the judge agrees then you’re not guilty. If the judge disagrees, you pay the fine plus court fees.