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 Field Conservation Easement, have significantly reduced the size of the Fund, and 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? (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. Open spaces previously protected by these funds have made possible the Victory Garden, hiking trails, skating on ice pond, etc. These types of opportunities are very important to the quality of life in Hampton.
Those against say: No one spoke against this article at the Deliberative Session.
Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $404,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $2.42 if this Article passes. This would affect 2017 only.