Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 to be placed in the Hampton Conservation Fund; this fund is used to “acquire, maintain, improve, protect or limit the future use of, or otherwise conserve and properly utilize,” open spaces and conservation easements in Hampton in accordance with RSA 36-A: Sections 1 through 4, inclusive. Recent acquisitions such as the Batchelder Farm Conservation Easement have significantly reduced the size of the Fund. The goal is to return the Fund to adequate levels to enable the Commission to conserve additional lands on behalf of the Town of Hampton. The Conservation Fund contains previously approved appropriations or gifts, for the same or similar purposes that have been made to the “Conservation Commission Accumulation Fund,” the “Conservation Land Fund,” and the “Conservation Land Acquisition Fund”? (Majority vote required.)
What it means: This fund is a way of saving for opportunities, similar to the Capital Reserve Fund. Voter approval of this Article each year is primarily how the Conservation Commission replenishes the fund it uses to preserve and maintain open spaces.
Those in favor say: The Town needs to support conservation land for the recreational value as well as to help with excess storm water.
Those against say: No one spoke against this Article at Deliberative Session.
Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $2.30 if this Article passes.