Here’s a link to the Article as it will appear on the Ballot:

Article 10.pdf

Click here to see what the Zoning Ordinance would look like if this Article passes:

Here’s a link to the Zoning Ordinance that is the topic of Article 10

What it means: This Article seeks to clarify existing language regarding signs in the Professional Office/Residential District (POR). It also establishes a list of permitted signs, designates the approval authority for each, and size requirements within this District. Any sign type not listed in the proposed table is prohibited.

Those in favor say: No one spoke in favor of the Article, except to explain its intention.

Those against say: One speaker suggested that a similar sign ordinance had been rejected by the voters in the past. In the Know Hampton was unable to confirm that. There was a previous voter rejection of limitations on sandwich boards; however, sandwich boards are specifically allowed under the current Article. If more information is forthcoming, In the Know Hampton will make it available in a subsequent post. Please remember to sign up for email updates in the right column, so you will be informed when new information is posted.

Here’s a link to the Article as it will appear on the Ballot:

Article 11.pdf

Click here to see what the Zoning Ordinance would look like if this Article passes:

Here’s a link to the Zoning Ordinance that is the topic of Article 11

What it means: Article 11 would discontinue the use of a written description of zoning boundaries, replacing it with parcel data in the Town’s GIS mapping System, overlaid with the Zoning Map.

Those in favor say: No one spoke in favor of the Article, except to explain its intention.

Those against say: A point of view was registered at Deliberative Session to indicate that GIS data is derived from the Tax Maps so that “overlaying” the data would not provide clarity. The speaker indicated that Tax Maps are not intended for purposes of delineating districts. In the speaker’s opinion, if Article 11 passes, it would provide less clear District lines.  If more information is forthcoming, we will post it. Please remember to sign up at the right for updates to this information.

Here’s a link to the Article as it will appear on the Ballot:

Article 12.pdf

What it means: The proposed budget of $27,151,600, if approved by voters, will be the Operating Budget for the fiscal year beginning January 2015. This represents a 6% increase over 2014, which was a Default Budget

A “No” vote means: The Default Budget of $26,507,097 will be the Operating Budget for the fiscal year beginning January 2015. This represents a 3.5% increase over last year’s budget, which was a Default Budget. The Default Budget is defined as last year’s budget increased by contractual obligations, debt service and any petitioned Warrant Articles that are passed by the voters on March 10th.

Those in favor of approving the proposed budget say: This allows the funding of projects that have been on hold for several years as the town and the taxpayers adjusted to difficult economic conditions in the 2009-2014 period. After 6 years of cutting corners, the town has a number of infrastructure items that need attention. Any taxpayer who has delayed necessary upkeep due to “belt tightening” knows that eventually, vehicles need to be replaced, and expenditures need to be made to support the long-term health of investments. Operating under a Default Budget means that any town employee who has been recommended for a raise does not receive it. Approving the Operating Budget assures that Town Hall employees are appropriately compensated and retained. Speakers at Deliberative Session said the Default Budget should not be the ‘target” budget year after year. It was a “floor” put in place by NH Legislature so towns could function at some level even if the Operating Budget was defeated.

Those against Article 12 say: The Default Budget would be 3.5% higher than last year’s budget. Those who spoke against approving the Operating Budget as amended at Deliberative Session ($27,151,600) felt that the level of funding in the Default Budget is sufficient to handle the needs of the town.  A speaker also noted that there is some funding remaining from 2014 that could be redeployed for 2015.

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $180.95 if this Article passes, and $104.95 if it is defeated. The difference is $76.00.

To calculate the effect on your property tax (for your specific property):

• Divide the Tax Assessor’s Valuation of your home by 1,000. (Example: for a $329,000 assessment, the number to use would be 329.) Use your latest tax bill, or go to: http://gis.vgsi.com/hamptonnh/Search.aspx Enter your street address to get your valuation.
• Multiply the result in #1 by .55 to get the tax impact of the proposed Operating Budget.
• Multiply the result in #1 by .319 to determine the tax impact of the Default Budget.

Note: In The Know Hampton is covering these two articles together because they are related, and virtually identical things were said about them at the Deliberative Session.

Here are links to the Articles as they will appear on the Ballot:

Article 13.pdf

Article 14.pdf

What it means: A yes vote approves the salary increases negotiated via Collective Bargaining negotiations. This agreement covers 2 years starting in April of 2015. Of the two years (104 weeks) 39 weeks fall into 2015; 52 weeks into 2016; and 13 weeks into 2017.

Those in favor say: Both the town’s interests and the interests of the firefighters and fire officers were well-represented in the negotiating process. The proposed salary increases were said to be equitable.

Those against say: No one spoke in opposition to either of these Articles at the Deliberative Session.

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $8.50 if this Article 13 passes, and an additional increased tax cost of $4.09 if Article 14 passes.

Here’s a link to the Article as it will appear on the Ballot:

Article 15.pdf

What it means: If Article 15 passes, funds will be set aside via 2015 taxation for a purchase that will take place prior to March 2017. As amended at Deliberative Session, both the purchase of the new equipment and the disposition of the 1988 pumper will take place via a competitive bidding process.

Those in favor say: The current pumper is 27 years old, and needs to be replaced.

Those against say: No one spoke against Article 15 at Deliberative Session. However, some people did suggest that a capital reserve fund should be set up to cover future expenditures of this nature so that the financial impact is not all in one year.

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $72.73 if this Article passes

Here’s a link to the Article as it will appear on the Ballot:

Article 16.pdf

What it means: Exeter Road would be shimmed and overlaid with asphalt to improve it for several more years while a more extensive repair project is finalized and funded.

Those in favor say: Exeter Rd is a main thoroughfare in and out of town. An analysis by UNH students rated roads in terms of overall use and state of disrepair. Via this process, Exeter Rd was rated as a top priority. Pothole repair is no longer considered prudent because the underlying structure isn’t there, making it a short-lived solution. Those in favor consider this to be a public safety issue as people currently swerve to avoid the large potholes, and noted that car owners are experiencing damage to their cars. If the work in question is later pulled up (as a result of being included in a larger yet-to-be funded project), the asphalt will be ground up and used to form the base of the road.

Those against say: Wait for the more extensive road repair project, whenever that might be. This is a large expenditure for a “hold-over” project.

Fiscal Impact:   The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $37.84 if this Article passes.

Here’s a link to the Article as it will appear on the Ballot:

Article 17.pdf

What it means: This is a project to help solve the water drainage issues in the downtown area. The Town will raise and appropriate the $449,156 and FEMA is being asked to contribute $149,156, or about a third of the total cost. The FEMA opportunity is for this year only. If the FEMA funds are not granted, or the public bids are in excess of the amount estimated, the project will not be undertaken.

Those in favor say: The old pipes are failing and will need to be replaced. Better to take advantage of the opportunity to have a third of the cost covered by FEMA.

Those against say: No one spoke in opposition at the Deliberative Session.

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $53.12 if this Article passes.

Here’s a link to the Article as it will appear on the Ballot:

Article 18.pdf

What it means: $300,000 would be raised via 2015 taxes and added to the Road Improvement Capital Reserve Fund, which has a current balance of $632,000. This is the fund that will be used for repair of failing roads in the future.

Those in favor say: This is a prudent way to save for infrastructure maintenance.

Those against say: No one spoke in opposition at the Deliberative Session.

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $35.48 if this Article passes.

Here’s a link to the Article as it will appear on the Ballot:

Article 19.pdf

What it means: Drainage work was completed by the Town in 2012 that left Belmont Circle, Fairfield Drive and Ruth Lane in bad shape. For the best repair outcome, the Town needed to allow 2 “freeze-thaw” cycles (2 Winters) before fully repairing the streets. That work is scheduled for this year, and the funds from the Highway Block Grant will be used to offset the costs.

Those in favor say: Rather than listing many streets to be repaired as has been done in the past, the Selectman are targeting streets in priority order, and are committed to completing this work in 2015.  These streets need the repair work that would be funded if this Article passes.

Those against say: There was a lot of discussion at Deliberative Session not actually against the concept of repairing the streets, but about the way the funding is represented in Article 19. If the funds are coming from the Highway Block Grant – why is there a fiscal impact? The response was given that the town has the option to use the Highway Block Grant to offset the Operating Budget (be put into the general coffers). The Town will not recognize that Operating Budget offset, since it will be using the money to repair the streets, so there is a fiscal impact and that’s why it is represented as such in Article 19.

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $31.65 if this Article passes.

Here’s a link to the Article as it will appear on the Ballot:

Article 20.pdf

What it means: Each of the listed agencies will receive a donation from the town in the amounts noted on the ballot. The amounts donated in 2014 are also noted. The difference from last year, where there is one, is a result of a request from the agency. This is an “all or none” Warrant Article. If the Article passes, all the listed agencies receive the specified donations. If it fails to pass, none do.

Those in favor say: This is something we do every year. These agencies handle social issues that would otherwise fall to the Town to manage.  The Selectman and the Budget Committee had the opportunity to review the requested amounts and the rationale.

Those against say: This sort of funding should be voluntary, not mandated via property taxes. A person should not be required to support all of these agencies if he or she has a philosophical disagreement with one or more on the list. No other town has mandated charitable giving.  Some of the agencies requested rather large increases.

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $20.33 if this Article passes.