Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,700,000 for the purposes of preliminary design, final design, bid documents, and construction of the comprehensive wastewater treatment plant upgrades across all processes identified in the 2017 Facilities Plan, including but not limited to: primary clarifier replacement, gravity thickener replacement, secondary clarifier upgrades, WAS and RAS pump upgrades, primary sludge pump and grinder upgrades, installation of an automated septage receiving facility and various sludge dewatering system upgrades. Such sum to be raised by the issuance of bonds or notes for a period not to exceed thirty (30) years under and in accordance with the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33); and To authorize the Board of Selectmen and the Town Treasurer to issue, negotiate, sell, and deliver such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon and the maturity and other terms thereof in accordance with the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33); and To authorize the Board of Selectmen to apply for, contract for, obtain, accept, and expend any Federal, State, or other available aid or funds toward the project in accordance with the terms and conditions under which they are received and to comply with all laws applicable to said project and to borrow in anticipation of the receipt of such funds and or the issuance of such bonds or notes as provided in the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33); and To authorize participation in the State Revolving Fund (SRF) (RSA 486:14) established for this purpose, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to apply for, accept and expend such monies as they become available from the Federal and State Governments; and To authorize the Board of Selectmen to implement such cost-effective solutions as are presented in the future that they deem to be in the best interest of the Town that may result in a lesser amount of expenditure than is authorized by this warrant article; and To authorize the Board of Selectmen to take any and all actions or to pass any other vote necessary to carry out the project in the best interest of the Town of Hampton? (3/5ths vote required)
Fiscal Impact Note (Finance Dept). The first debt payment is expected to be due in 2026. The total of the bond’s principal and interest payments over a 20-year period at an interest rate of 2.00% are estimated to be $18,997,000.
What it means: Necessary upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Facility were identified 5 years ago. In order to make the workload manageable, the project was divided into 3 phases. Taxpayers have already approved Phase 1, and that work was completed. This Article relates to Phase 2, which will become part of the tax appropriations in 2026, as aspects of the work are completed and payments become due.
Comprehensive Treatment Plant Upgrades identified in the 2017 Facilities Plan, to be done under Phase 2, as allowed with the passage of Article 10:
- Preliminary, Final Bid and Construction Phase Services
- Primary Clarifier Replacement
- Gravity Thickener Replacement
- Secondary Clarifier Upgrades
- AS and RAS Pump Upgrades
- Primary Sludge Pump and Grinder Upgrades
- Installation of an Automated Septage Receiving Facility
- Various Sludge Dewatering
- System Upgrades
Those in favor say: This is work that needs to be done in order to support not only the current demands on the system from year-round residents, but also the increased demand seasonally. No one wants to think about this – we just expect that when we “flush”, it goes away. But handling of waste matter is central to the functioning of any town and cannot be ignored.
Those opposed say: No one spoke against this Article at the Deliberative Session.
Fiscal impact: A household valued at $400,000 will see a tax increase of approximately $174.27 in 2026 if Article 10 is approved. Cost per thousand dollars of valuation is .4357 cents in 2026. There will be tax impacts in similar amounts for the life of the (expected) 20-year bond.