Article 18: Recreation Infrastructure Special Revenue Fund – $72,100

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $72,100 for the following purposes of the Parks and Recreation Department: to purchase a Scag 61” Cheetah II commercial lawn mower and attachments, to purchase a field line striper sprayer, to repair the Eaton Park picnic area and add or replace equipment as needed, to repair and resurface the Tuck field tennis courts, including repainting the tennis courts and lines, to purchase and install pickleball nets and line striping, and to contribute to the repair, service or maintain the fields, grounds and equipment, as determined to be in the best interests of the Town, and to authorize the withdrawal of said sum of $72,100 from the Hampton Recreation Infrastructure Special Revenue Fund established for these purposes under Article 44 of the 2007 Annual Town Meeting? (Majority vote required)

What it means: Every year, the needs of the Parks and Recreation Department are identified, and the voters need to approve withdrawal of the requested dollars from an established fund.

Those in favor say: The projects will contribute to a better recreational environment for the residents of our town, and the costs have been covered by revenue generated from Town Parking lots.  The Recreation Department does not have much of a maintenance budget, as it is anticipated that the funds will be withdrawn from this fund annually.  The ability to maintain the recreational environment of the Town is depending on the passage of this Warrant Article.

Those against say:  Although no one spoke against this article, there was discussion about the amount, which was reduced by $34,850 by action at Deliberative Session.  A similar amount was added to the Operating Budget with the concept that the infrastructure money should reside there.  However, as was pointed out at a point when it was too late to revisit the Operating Budget, there is no obligation for the Operating Budget to be spent on any particular line item.

Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact because the money will be taken from a separate fund put aside for this purpose.  This Article is allowing the withdrawal of the money from the fund.