’26 Article 19 – Parks and Recreation 14-Passenger Bus with Wheelchair Lift – $ 220,000

To see if the Town of Hampton will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $220,000 for the Parks and Recreation Department to purchase a 14-passenger bus with wheelchair lift, for transportation to Recreation-sponsored events; and to purchase a heavy-duty 4WD pick-up truck with plow; and to contribute to the repair, replacement, service or maintenance of the fields, grounds and equipment, as determined to be in the best interests of the Town, and to authorize the withdrawal of said sum of $220,000 from the Hampton Recreation Infrastructure Special Revenue Fund previously established under Article 44 of the 2007 Annual Town Meeting.  This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the improvements are completed or by March 31, 2031, whichever occurs sooner.

What it Means: This Article seeks to use funds from the Hampton Recreational Infrastructure Special Reserve Fund established in 2007, to replace two existing vehicles used by the Parks and Recreation Department, which are aging and have become costly to repair.  The van to be replaced is a 2015 bus which is having electrical and transmission issues. The truck is used to maintain all the fields and facilities and is also experiencing transmission problems.

Those in favor say: There was general support expressed for the Parks and Recreation Department. It was also noted that 20% of the parking revenue from municipal lots helps to fund the Hampton Recreational Infrastructure Special Reserve Fund, so there is no need to raise taxes for these purchases.

No one spoke against this Article at Deliberative Session.

Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact, as the funds are put aside for this purpose and only need voter approval for the intended use.