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 Association 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)
2022 (39 weeks) $303,037
2023 (52 weeks) $187,071
2024 (52 weeks) $140,000
2025 (13 weeks) $33,864
And to further raise and appropriate $303,037 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: Article 13 would increase the Patrolmen’s pay by 2-3% versus the current schedule. Below is a schedule of hourly wages that would be in effect for service anniversaries up to 4 years, if this Article passes.
More details can be found on the town’s website:
https://hamptonnh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4989/HamptonPoliceAssociationTentativeAgreement—Patrolman
Those in favor say: Hampton needs to pay competitive wages in order to recruit and retain people willing to serve. Nearby towns (Seabrook and Manchester were mentioned) have more attractive salaries than Hampton has been providing. It is inevitable that we will lose both incoming candidates, and Patrolmen that Hampton has already invested in. We have lost one-third of our Patrolmen since the last contract. Some of them left law enforcement entirely but many left for higher pay elsewhere. The requested increase is entirely reasonable and very necessary – especially with regard to current and anticipated inflation – to maintain the necessary force, and thus the safety of our residents and the tourists who come seasonally.
A representative of the business community spoke at the Deliberative Session in favor of remaining competitive so that the town does not find itself short-staffed when the need is greatest. Throughout the country, businesses are having to increase hourly wages to attract and maintain employees. It is no different in a municipal environment. We need to remain competitive or we will not be able to properly staff for the needs of the community.
Those against say: No one spoke against this Article at the Deliberative Session.
Fiscal impact: This is a four-year agreement, with 39 weeks falling into 2022. In this fiscal year, a property valued at $400,000 would see a tax increase of $31.60 if this Article passes. Using 2022 valuations for the tax base, the subsequent years would see additional increases of $19.51 in 2023, $14.60 in 2024 and $3.53 in 2025 (for 13 weeks only). To calculate the effect on your own property, use .079 times your valuation divided by 1,000 in 2022.