Article 40: Naval Committee Fund ($10,000)

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 for the purpose of creating and supporting the Town of Hampton Naval Committee Fund, with said sum of $10,000 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance. This will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the work of the Committee is completed or by March 31, 2024, whichever is sooner? (Majority vote required)

What it means: This requests the voters of Hampton to support the activities of the Naval Committee, which provides hospitality to naval personnel on vessels visiting the Town of Hampton.  Until now, a group of volunteers filled the role through volunteer time, and costs have been covered with private funds.

Those in favor say: We have been asked to host more ships. Residents of this town should feel honored that the Navy has asked Hampton to support this effort.

Those against say: It’s a volunteer effort and it should stay a volunteer effort. It should not be made a responsibility of the taxpayers. The proposal lacks specificity re: how money will be spent. It is inappropriate to use Unassigned Fund Balance for a project that is not specifically for the Town. 

 Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact because the money was appropriated in prior tax years.  This Article would use money from the unassigned fund balance.