Article 12 – Management Program for Storm Water and Waste Water Assets

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $60,000 to assist the Department of Public Works in the development of an asset management program for storm water and wastewater assets. Said appropriation to be offset by $60,000 in principal loan forgiveness under the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF); and

To authorize the Board of Selectmen to apply for, contract for, accept and expend any Federal, State or other available funds towards the project in accordance with terms and conditions under which they are received and to borrow in anticipation of the receipt of such 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 the purpose, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to accept and expend such monies as they become available from the Federal and State Governments.

This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the project is completed or by March 31, 2019, whichever occurs sooner? (3/5ths vote required)

Fiscal Impact Note (Finance Dept.) If the loan forgiveness occurs by the time the tax rate is set then the estimated 2017 tax impact would be $0.000 per $1,000 valuation.

What it means: This appropriation would enable the Department of Public Works to develop and implement a unified asset management program for waste water and storm water management assets to reduce operating risks and to assess infrastructure challenges. It would be a communication and tracking tool for work orders, financial and visual reports, costs, and project management. The goal is to shift from “reactive” management of the community’s assets to “proactive” management. The money appropriated will be offset by loan forgiveness in the total amount by the NH Department of Environmental Services.

Those in favor say: This will eventually lead to much better management of all of the Town’s assets.

Those opposed say: What does this really buy for the Town?

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $404,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $ 7.27 in 2017, but likely there will be no tax impact after the loan forgiveness.