Shall the Town of Hampton vote to approve the cost items included in the Collective Bargaining Agreement reached between the Hampton Board of Selectmen and with the Hampton Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2664, IAFF, which calls for the following increases in salaries and benefits at current staffing levels, over the amount paid in the prior fiscal year:
Estimated Increase (over previous year level)
2021 (39 weeks) $77,439
2022 (52 weeks) $91,518
2023 (52 weeks) $102,117
2024 (13 weeks) $24,353
And to further raise and appropriate $77,439 for the current fiscal year, such sum representing the additional costs attributable to the increase in salaries and benefits required by the new agreement over those that would be paid at current staffing levels? (Majority vote required)
What it means: This Collective Bargaining Agreement covers 32 people: (4) fire alarm operators & (28) firefighters’ positions. The stated increases amount to 1 .4% in 2021; 1.9% in 2022 and 2.0% in 2023.
Those in favor say: Understanding that the pandemic has impacted every aspect of all of our lives, both sides tried to strike a balance that is mutually beneficial for the taxpayers, but also prevents the firefighters from losing ground against inflation. The percent increase is down from the 2.8% that was proposed but failed last year at Town Meeting. With the zero from last year, the 4-year average is 1.325%. Firefighters supported the community throughout the pandemic, and ask for your support now.
Those opposed say: No one spoke against Article 10 at the Deliberative Session.
Fiscal impact: If Article 10 is approved, a property valued at $400,000 would see a tax increase of $8.00 in 2021, and an increase of $12.16 for the highest cost year in the contract period (2023). Cost per thousand dollars of valuation is 2 cents in 2021.