On petition of Lisa Gendron, and at least 25 registered voters, shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate $3,000,000 to mill and overlay Winnacunnet Road in its entirety from Lafayette Road east to Ocean Boulevard. Said sum of $3,000,000 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance? (As Petitioned)
What it means: A petitioned Warrant Article is requesting that the Town use $3 Million from the Unassigned Fund Balance to mill and overlay Winnacunnet Road. The work does not include the underlying infrastructure below the road.
Those in favor say: Winnecunnet Road is a major roadway through the Town and with GPS, the road has become an alternate route for east/west traffic. Reconstruction of Winnecunnet was included in a Warrant Article in 2021, but failed to gain the 60% vote requirement as it was a bond article. The 2021 bond article received a 54% voter approval. The mill and overlay would be a temporary investment that could potentially last years while the underground systems are addressed.
Those against say: The road is scheduled for reconstruction, including underground systems, in 2024, and so milling and repaving in 2022 would not be a prudent expenditure. Repaving would not address flooding issues currently occurring. The town will still have to go back in future years to address the aging sewer and drainage, since those more expensive ticket items are not included in this Article. While repaving will make the road “look pretty”, the infrastructure underneath will not be addressed. The petitioned article Using $3 Million from the Unassigned Fund Balance, along with all other projects (if approved) would leave a remaining balance in the Fund of $5.3 Million, which some feel is not enough should other repairs or replacements in the Town be needed.
Fiscal impact: There is no new tax impact because the money was appropriated in prior tax years. This Article is allowing the withdrawal of the money from the Unassigned Fund Balance to complete the designated work.