Article 19: Purchase of Fire Engine from Unassigned Fund Balance

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $825,000 for the purchase of one (1) Fire Engine and equipping with any necessary operational equipment and accessories, for the Hampton Fire and Rescue Department. Said sum of $825,000 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance. This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the purchase is completed or by March 31, 2027, whichever occurs sooner? (Majority vote required)

What it means: If this article passes, a replacement Fire Truck would be ordered and the cost would be taken from the Unassigned Fund Balance.  The vehicle to be replaced was purchased in 2001, and has been on the Capital Improvement Plan.

Those in favor say: 

• The equipment has had $275,000 in repair costs over the life of the vehicle.
• The equipment has corrosion issues throughout and the foam system and pump intake gauge are both out of service.
• A similar piece of equipment was lost to corrosion 4 years ago.
• A truck that we order this year is likely to be delivered in 2024, with current lead times.
• Multiple vendors will be asked to quote this purchase, to control the cost to taxpayers.

Those against say: No one spoke against this article at the Deliberative Session.

Fiscal impact:  There would be no new tax impact, as the Unassigned Fund Balance will be tapped.