Shall the Town of Hampton raise and appropriate the sum of $71,668 for the purposes of continuing the upgrade of the Town Information Technology systems including software, hardware, and services for Police, Fire, Public Works and other Town Departments, and to replace and upgrade computers and other equipment, upgrade the Town office phone system and equipment to a VOIP (Voice over IP) system and to purchase and upgrade the Vision Assessing Database Software, including all necessary services and support, with said sum of $71,668 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance. This will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the work is completed or by March 31, 2021, whichever is sooner? (Majority vote required)
What it means: The noted upgrades will be put in place, and the dollars will be withdrawn from the unassigned fund balance, which are tax funds that were appropriated in a prior year.
Those in favor say: Technology demands updates for security and functionality reasons. These upgrades are necessary and will add to staff efficiency.
Those against say: No one spoke against this Article at Deliberative Session.
Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact because the money was appropriated in prior tax years. This Article is allowing the withdrawal of the money from the fund for the specified purpose.