“Shall we allow the operation of sports book retail locations within the Town of Hampton?”

 What it means: In July, 2019, the H 480 bill regulating sports betting was signed by the governor making sports betting legal in the State of NH, with land-based retail locations capped at 10 in the state.  NH Sports betting will be regulated by the NH Lottery Commission. Six different cities have approved sportsbooks throughout the state, with towns voting for approval in the upcoming ballotss.Of the towns that approve it, 10 locations will be selected for retail betting.The money collected does not flow directly to the hosting municipality, but the availability of sports betting may attract more tourists to the area.

Those in favor say: Having a retail location would attract users to Hampton, which could benefit local charities. The state on NH will receive 51% of revenues.  Money currently collected by the NH Lottery Commission is dedicated to education in the state.

 Those against say: Some people are concerned about unintended side effects of having more strain on our infrastructure with unclear benefit to the Town.

 Fiscal Impact: There is no direct tax impact to this decision.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $30,000 to assist the Department of Public Works in the continued advancement for the Town’s Asset Management program for Wastewater Assets. Said appropriation to be offset by $30,000 in principal loan forgiveness under the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF); and To authorize the Board of Selectmen to apply for, contract for, accept and expend any Federal, State or other available funds towards the project in accordance with the terms and conditions under which they are received and to borrow in anticipation of the receipt of such and or the issuance of such bonds or notes as provided in the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33); and To authorize participation in the State Revolving Fund (SRF) (RSA 486:14) established for the purpose, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to accept and expend such monies as they become available from the Federal and State Governments. This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the project is completed or by March 31, 2022, whichever occurs sooner? (3/5ths vote required)

 What it means: The Town has already begun a program of electronically cataloging major assets and maintaining key documents and notes relevant to the major assets. Article 13 expands this program to include Wastewater Treatment assets.  The $30,000 will be offset by a loan forgiveness program.

Those in favor say: This continues work already begun by the Department of Public Works, and helps to protect the Town’s investments.

Those opposed say: No one spoke against this Article at Deliberative Session.

Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact, because the NH State Revolving Fund will provide 100% principal loan forgiveness.

Shall the Town modify the Elderly exemptions for property tax in the Town of Hampton, pursuant to N.H. RSA 72:27-a, based on assessed value, for qualified taxpayers, to be as follows: for a person 65 years of age up to 75 years increase to $140,000 (currently $125,000); for person 75 years of age up to 80 years increase to $168,000 (currently $160,000); for a person 80 years of age or older increase to $221,000 (currently $200,000). To qualify the person must have been a New Hampshire resident for at least three (3) consecutive years preceding April 1st, must own the real estate individually, or jointly, or if the real estate is owned by his or her spouse, they must have beenmarried and living together for at least five (5) years, in addition, the taxpayers must have a netincome of not more than $38,000 if single, or if married, a combined net income of less than$58,000, and own net assets not in excess of $250,000 excluding the value of the person’s primaryresidence? (Majority vote required)

The purpose of this article is to modify the exemption for the elderly due to the recent revaluation of the Town in order for the exemption to keep pace with inflation and the general increase in property values so as to leave no elderly persons behind because of these value changes.

What it means: There are currently in place real estate tax exemptions for elderly homeowners who meet certain criteria. This Article proposes to increase the assessed values used to base the Elderly property tax exemptions.

Those in favor say:  The intention is to keep the exemptions in line with the increasing property valuations so that the qualifying elderly are not taxed out of the Town.

Those opposed say: No one spoke against this Article at Deliberative Session.

Fiscal impact: No direct tax impact.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $28,322,336. Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $28,335,036, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Town of Hampton or by law or the governing body may hold one special meeting in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only? (Majority vote required)

Fiscal Impact Note (Finance Dept.) The proposed operating budget figure of $28,322,336 is an increase of $727,220 more than the budget amount adopted in 2019 of $27,595,116. The net estimated 2020 tax impact of the proposed operating budget is $0.193 per $1,000 valuation (nineteen point three cents per thousand dollars of valuation). The default budget figure of $28,335,036 is an increase of $739,920 more than the budget amount adopted in 2019. The net estimated tax impact for the default budget is $0.197 per $1,000 valuation (nineteen point seven cents per thousand dollars of valuation)

What it means: The voters are presented with two budgets. The Default Budget is regulated by RSA 40:13 and is determined by the amount of the previous-year approved budget, as adjusted by debt service, and contracts/obligations mandated by law.  The Default Budget will be the Operating Budget for the Town in the event the Proposed Operating Budget does not pass.

For 2020, the Proposed Budget is an increase over the 2019 approved Budget by $727,220, but is less than the Default Budget by a difference of $12,700.

The Default Budget adds $0.197 per $1,000 valuation or $78.80 for a $400,000 home in Hampton. The Proposed Budget adds $0.193 per $1,000 valuation or $77.20 ($1.60 less than required by the default budget.).

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 an assessment of $400,000, the number to use would be 400.) Use your latest tax bill, or go to: http://gis.vgsi.com/hamptonnh/Search.aspx and enter your street address to get your valuation.

Multiply the result in #1 by .197 to get the tax impact of the proposed Operating Budget. Multiply the result in #1 by .193 to determine the tax impact of the Default Budget.

Those in favor say: The proposed Operating Budget is less than the Default Budget for the first time since 2015.

Those against say: There was no discussion against the proposed Operating Budget at the Deliberative Session.

Fiscal impact: A Hampton home valued at $400,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $77.20 in 2020 if the Proposed Operating Budget is approved.  Note that the Default Budget is higher than the one proposed.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to approve the cost items included in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Hampton Board of Selectmen and with the Hampton Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2664, IAFF, which calls for the following increases in salaries and benefits at current staffing levels, over the amount paid in the prior fiscal year:

Estimated Increase (over previous year level)

2020 (39 weeks) $  87,623

2021 (52 weeks) $118,455

2022 (52 weeks) $125,166

2023 (13 weeks) $  29,054

And to further raise and appropriate $87,623 for the current fiscal year, such sum representing the additional costs attributable to the increase in salaries and benefits required by the new agreement over those that would be paid at current staffing levels? (Majority vote required)

What it means: This Article provides a 2.8% salary increase, in line with the federally defined cost of living in 2019, meaning that Hampton Firefighter’s salaries will keep pace with inflation.

Those in favor say: There is a scarcity of young people coming into the workforce with qualifications to fill firefighter and fire supervisor positions. Hampton has needed to run more than one hiring process to find qualified candidates. Frequently, professionals are accepting positions in other communities because our pay increases have been less reliable (get voted down frequently) versus surrounding municipalities in New Hampshire and coastal Massachusetts. If we want to attract and maintain good people, we need to pay them at a level that is consistent with surrounding communities. For example,

• Dover’s firefighters have a CPI-based COLA with a range of 2-4%. In 2018 they received a 3.2% increase, and in 2019 it was 2.8%.
• North Hampton’s firefighters have a CPI-based COLA with a range of 2-4%.
• Rye’s firefighters have a 2.75% proposed increase for each of the next 3 years. In 2019, they received a 3.4%.

Those opposed say: No one spoke against this Article at Deliberative Session.

Fiscal impact: If Article 16 is approved, it will create an additional tax cost of $9.20 for a Hampton home valued at $400,000 in the current fiscal year, and a maximum of $13.14 per year during the contract period. Take your property value divided by 1000 times .023 to get your cost.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to approve the cost items included in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Hampton Board of Selectmen and the Hampton Fire Department Supervisory Association, affiliated with the Hampton Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2664, IAFF, which calls for the following increases in salaries and benefits at current staffing levels, over the amount paid in the prior fiscal year:

Estimated Increase (over previous year level)

2020 (39 weeks) $ 31,742

2021 (52 weeks) $ 38,398

2022 (52 weeks) $ 37,769

2023 (13 weeks) $ 9,499

And to further raise and appropriate $31,742 for the current fiscal year, such sum representing the additional costs attributable to the increase in salaries and benefits required by the new agreement over those that would be paid at current staffing levels? (Majority vote required)

 What it means: This Article does not cover the Fire Chief, but it does include the Lieutenants and Captains who ride on the fire trucks and manage resources during events.  It also includes the Fire Prevention Officer and the Medical officers who manage the ambulances.  Like the Firefighters’ contract, and the Police Officers’ contract from last year’s Warrant, the contract provides a 2.8% salary increase, in line with the 2019 federally defined cost of living.

Those in favor say: Hampton Fire Supervisors’ salaries will keep pace with inflation if this Article passes. See the comments under Article 16 – the requested increases are in keeping with raises in neighboring towns. If we do not keep pace, we will lose trained and qualified professionals to other communities.

Those against say: No one spoke against this Article at the Deliberative Session.

Fiscal impact: If Article 17 is approved, it will create an additional tax cost of $3.20 for a Hampton home valued at $400,000 in the current fiscal year, and a maximum of $3.87 per year during the contract period. Take your property value divided by 1000 times .008 to get your cost.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $435,000 from the 1998 Road Improvement Capital Reserve Fund, previously established, for the purpose of the survey, engineering and design work for replacing the Winnacunnet Road and High Street sewer and closed drainage system mains, sewer services, then followed by curbing, sidewalks, school zone and pedestrian signage, street lights, traffic signage, paving of the entire roadway, and line painting. Reconstruction of the roadway may ultimately include traffic calming structures or other improvements to assist in controlling the speed of vehicles.

Further to authorize the Board of Selectmen to apply for, contract for, accept and expend any Federal, State or local grants and funds towards the project in accordance with the terms and conditions under which they are received for the purpose of sidewalks, CMAQ mitigation, State or Federal highway funding or Hazard Mitigation grants with said grants and funds to be added to the project; andTo authorize the Board of Selectmen to implement such cost effective solutions as are presented in the future that they deem to be in the best interests of the Town that may result in lesser amount of expenditure than is authorized by this warrant article; and

To authorize participation in the State Revolving Fund (SRF) (RSA 486:14) established for the purpose; and

To authorize the Board of Selectmen to take any and all actions necessary to carry out the project in the best interests of the Town. 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, 2024, whichever is sooner? (Majority vote required)

 What it means:  In 1998, Hampton voters established a fund to which taxpayers contribute on an annual basis.  This money is being put aside for major road projects.  The engineering and design work requested in this article will be paid for via this fund.  Both Winnacunnet and High Streets have been on the Capital Improvement Plan for years. This article represents the first of the work being done to assess, design and obtain cost estimates for whatever is determined to be in need of doing.

Those in favor say: One of the things Hampton residents are continually asking for is improved roadways, and generally they are referring to paving the surface of the roads.  However, it does not make sense to pave the roads when the infrastructure beneath them is failing.  This request is for the engineering and design work to get Winnacunnet and High Streets ready for construction.  This funding will establish a fully mapped out plan including costs.  It will allow the cleaning and visual capture of the sewer systems to learn what does and does not need to be replaced.  It is coming from the Capital Reserve Fund set up for this purpose, so it does not have a current year tax impact.

Those against say: The only speaker against the Article at Deliberative Session stated that he is not in favor of replacing sewer lines when it is not necessary to replace them. Note: This speaker may have misunderstood because the article is for exactly that – to learn where we do – and do not – need to address the condition of infrastructure under the roadways so that we are paying for only what is necessary.

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 Road Capital Reserve Fund for the specified purpose. The fund is currently valued at roughly $2.2 million but previously approved dollars have not yet been withdrawn. In 2018, voters approved the withdrawal of $1.5 million that will be drawn upon as the work is done and invoices are presented.  If both Article 18 and Article 23 (new $300,000 contribution to the fund) are approved, the fund will be in the neighborhood of $500,000.

To see if the Town will approve the Board of Selectmen entering into a three and a half (3 and ½) year contracts from July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2023 with separate entities that have submitted bids for the collection, transport and disposal of solid waste, recyclables, and construction and demolition waste, from the Town of Hampton with an annual increase in accordance with the Consumer Price Index-Northeast, Urban (CPI-U), and to raise and appropriate the sum of $425,127 to cover the increases in contract costs for these services for the second half of 2020 over the 2020 budget amount of $615,659 that is included in both the operating budget and default budget figures in the operating budget Warrant Article 15; said sum of $425,127 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance in 2020 with subsequent years’ increases to come from the operating budgets in those years. Based on the bid prices and the increase in contract costs in accordance with theCPI-U, the estimated cost increase over the total fiscal year 2020 is $248,097. The contracts willentail the Town using the entities contracted with for the entire 3 and ½-year period? (MajorityVote required)

Estimated Increases (over previous year’s level)

2020 (6 months) $ 425,127

2021 (12 months) $ 198,054

2022 (12 months) $ 24,777

2023 (12 months) $ 25,267

 What it means: The current contracts for the collection, transport, and disposal of solid waste, recyclables, and construction and demolition waste expires in 6/2020. This Article would give the Board of Selectmen approval to enter into various 3 ½ year contracts with separate entities for the period 7/1/2020 through 12/31/2023 at the increased amounts as shown in the Article.  The first 6 month period 7/1/2020-12/31/2020 increase of $425,127 would be paid through the Unassigned Fund balance.  Increases for years 2021, 2022 & 2023 are based on the CPI-U and would be included in the Town’s Operating Budgets for each year.

Those in favor say: Cost of waste removal and disposal are increasing and there really is no choice.

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

Fiscal Impact: There is no tax impact in 2020 since it would be drawn from the Unassigned Fund balance.  The remaining 3 years would be included in the Operating Budgets.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $850,000 for the purpose of replacing the Locke Road vitrified clay sewer line and the surface and closed drainage systems that services part of the street followed by the paving of the entire roadway, said costs to include survey and engineering. Reconstruction of the roadway may include traffic calming structures or other improvements to assist in controlling the speed of vehicles. The application of new pavement will occur in the year following the installation of the sewer and drainage replacement systems to allow for the proper settlement of the excavated roadbed. 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, 2024, whichever is sooner? (Majority vote required)

 What it means: This expenditure is required in order to replace the pipes and drainage systems under Locke Road and to subsequently pave over the top of the repaired infrastructure.

Those in favor say: Locke Road is in poor condition, and has been on the CIP list for some time.  Sewer lines are clay and weak or broken joints allow groundwater to run through the sewer system.  DPW Director stated that we use about 350 Million gallons of water each year, 98% of which should be expected to flow through the Wastewater Treatment Plan. But in reality, over 900 Million gallons are being treated at the plant.  This is because groundwater is infiltrating though cracked or broken pipes or pipe joints.  That unnecessary processing is taking capacity away from our legitimate need for the treatment of wastewater, and if not addressed, will require further expansion of the Wastewater Treatment Plant in the future at a great expense to taxpayers.

Those against say: One speaker expressed skepticism about whether the pipe needed to be replaced, and was seeking images of the pipes to be assured that the fix is really needed.

Fiscal impact: If Article 20 is approved, it will create an additional one-time tax cost of $90.40 for a Hampton home valued at $400,000. Take your property value divided by 1000 times .0226 to get your cost.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $486,231 for improvements to streets consisting of a) paving overlays, b) adjustments to structures to permit paving, c) repairs and replacements to drainage, d) repairs and replacement to sewers if needed for pavement repair, e) repairs to sidewalks and driveway openings, f) crack sealing and curbing installation, and g) improvements and repairs to Town Parking Lots and parking areas. Upon completion of the work scheduled in this warrant article, if funds remain unused the DPW may proceed to the next street(s) on their priority repair list until said unused portion is spent. Said appropriation to be offset by the State Highway Block Grant estimated to be $323,509. This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the projects are completed or by March 31, 2022, whichever occurs sooner? (Majority vote required)

What it means: The Town of Hampton has been successful in receiving a grant from the NH DOTHighwayGrant Block Fund that helps to maintain Class IV and Class V  “highways” (basically compact sections of town roads). Funds are applied to specific projects as identified by DPW and approved by the Board ofSelectmen.

Those in favor say: This allows the Town to pursue improvements to roads including paving overlays, repairs, crack sealing, curbing and associated utility improvements with a considerable offset from the NH highway grant program.  Roads listed in the Capital Improvement Plan will be addressed according to the priority list, with the understanding that unforeseen circumstances will sometimes change the order of streets to be repaired. The current plan includes Park Ave, Elaine St, Richards St, the High Street parking lot, Cusack Rd and Acadia Ave.

Those against say: One speaker at Deliberative Session was critical of the fact that the street names to be repaired were not listed in the Article for reasons of accountability.  Another speaker offered the explanation that street names had been removed to allow flexibility – if funds were left over after the projects were completed, the listing of names in the article might have been interpreted as not allowing anything further to be done with those funds. By referring instead to the priority repair list found in the Capital Improvement Plan, DPW has the authority to move on to the next street on the list.

Fiscal impact:  If Article 21 is approved, it will create an additional one-time tax cost of $17.20 for a Hampton home valued at $400,000. Take your property value divided by 1000 times .043 to get your cost.