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 the Hampton Police Assoc (Patrolman), 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)
| 2019 (39 weeks) | $ 80,204 |
| 2020 (52 weeks) | $131,484 |
| 2021 (52 weeks) | $129,954 |
2022 (13 weeks) $ 30,950
And to further raise and appropriate $80,204 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: These Article provides a 2.8% salary increase, in line with the federally defined cost of living, meaning that Hampton Patrolmen’s salaries will keep pace with inflation if this Article passes.
Those in favor say: Helps the town to attract and retain both regular police officers and the summer personnel who are handling an ever-increasing tourist crowd during the summer months. If we want good people, we need to pay them fairly.
Those against say: No one spoke against this Article at Deliberative Session.
Fiscal impact: The average Hampton home valued at $405,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $15.91 in 2019 (39 weeks); and (if total property valuations and exemptions remained the same) $26.08 in 2020 (for 52 weeks); $25.78 in 2021 (for 52 weeks) and $6.14 for 2022 (for 13 weeks) at current staffing levels.