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Article 42: Discontinue Public Works Equipment Capital Reserve Fund

Shall the Town vote to discontinue and close the Department of Public Works Equipment Capital Reserve Fund created under Article 23 of the 2008 Annual Town Meeting with a balance of $3,490.52 as of December 31, 2018, plus accrued interest, to be transferred to the Town’s General Fund to be used to reduce property taxes? (Majority vote required)

What it means: The DPW Equipment Capital Reserve Fund was established by Warrant Article 23 of the 2008 Town Meeting. The sum of $340,000 was voted, and deposited with the Trustees for this new DPW Fund. In 2008 and 2009, the majority of the funds were utilized for DPW equipment. There were no additional funding deposits to the account in the subsequent years. Since then, a small balance has lingered in the account, and this Article seeks to return the balance to the taxpayers and close the Fund.

Those in favor say: The existing balance has not been used in several years and should be returned to the general fund.

Fiscal impact: No tax impact.

Article 43: Amend Membership of the Heritage Commission

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to amend the membership composition of the Heritage Commission established under Article 45 of the 2019 Annual Town Meeting in that portion of said Article 45 beginning “As provided in RSA 673:4-a.” by amending section 1.(b) to read “one regular member of the Heritage Commission shall be a member of the Board of Selectmen” and by amending section 1.(c) to read “one regular member of the Heritage Commission shall be a member of the Planning Board.” This amendment is required for the membership of the Commission to come into compliance with the requirements of RSA 673:4-a, II. (Majority vote required)

What it means: When Article 45 in 2019 was put forward, it incorrectly established that there would need to be one regular member and one alternate member (two each) from the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board.  The NH Statutes require only one representative from each Board.  Article 43 corrects the error from last year.

No one spoke either for or against this Article, other than to explain it.

Fiscal impact: No tax impact.

2020 Petitioned Articles 44-46

On the 2020 Warrant, Articles 44, 45 and 46 are Petitioned Articles, requested by individuals in Hampton.  They can be seen below.

Article 44: Christmas Parade Offset ($3,000)

On the petition of Kristen Russell and at least 25 Hampton registered voters, shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate $3,000 to pay to Experience Hampton Inc, the organizer of the 2010 to 2019 Hampton Christmas Parades, to help defray the expenses of the 2020 Christmas Parade and related activities?

 What it means: This request is for an annual donation to Experience Hampton to help fund the Christmas parade, which occurs in early December each year.

Those in favor say: The parade involves many groups, including businesses, schools and local officials. The total cost of the parade is $15,000, of which the taxpayers are being asked to absorb a small fraction.

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

Fiscal impact: The $3,000 cost in 2020 will create an additional tax cost for a Hampton home valued at $400,000 of $.40.This decision affects the current year only.  Take your property value divided by 1000 times .001 to get your cost.

Article 45: Bronze Flag Holders/Grave Markers – American Legion

On the petition of G. Berkley Bennett and at least 25 Hampton registered voters, shall the Town of Hampton raise and appropriate $6500 to reimburse the American Legion Post 35, The Hamptons, for the purchase of 200 bronze service flag holder grave markers? American Legion Post 35 would, with the assistance of community volunteers, place or replace the markers so that the Town of Hampton may continue to properly honor the graves of our veterans in the High Street and other Hampton cemeteries.

What it means:  Last year’s Warrant Article of $6,500 for cemetery markers for veterans failed. The petitioner is requesting that the townspeople reconsider the amount of $6,500 that would about cover 200 markers to replace missing flag holders.

Those in favor say: The flags show respect for our veterans.  If some markers have been pulled up, they should be replaced.

Those against say: Some believe it is inappropriate for a non-profit to ask taxpayers to pay for the markers, suggesting that the American Legion should be fundraising and buy what they can each year.  The community supports the veterans, but the marker money should be in the cemetery operating budget rather than as a separate Warrant Article.

Fiscal impact: The $6,500 cost in 2020 will create an additional tax cost for a Hampton home valued at $400,000 of $.80. This decision affects the current year only. Take your property value divided by 1000 times .002 to get your cost.

Article 46: Add Step Up Parents to List of Social Agencies ($500)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the amount of $500 for Step Up Parents. Step Up Parents is a N.H. based 501(c)(3) that provides financial assistance and support to grandparents and relative caregivers who have stepped up to raise the children of parents struggling with substance use disorder. These funds are used to provide help with needs not met through traditional state and local funding for such things as the cost of summer camp, music lessons, sports camps, daycare, food, clothing, automobile repairs, rent, and gas.

 What it means: If Article 46 is approved, two things will result.  First, Step Up Parents will receive a donation of $500 in 2020 from the Town of Hampton, and second, the organization will be added in the future to the Social Services Warrant Article of donation recipients, thus increasing that line item in future years. (Article 26 this year).

Those in favor say: Step Up Parents is an organization that is helping families torn apart by drug addiction, and specifically the children whose parents are unable to care for them.  It is appropriate that the group be considered as one of the Social Services agencies to which the Town provides a donation each year.

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

Fiscal impact: The $500 in 2020 will create an additional tax cost for a Hampton home valued at $400,000 of $.04. This decision affects future years as well.

SAU 90 Article 1: Operating Budget

SAU 90 Article 1:  Shall the School District 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, or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $23,789,112? Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $23,703,302, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the District 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.)

What it means:  The SAU 90 Proposed Operating Budget is $85,810 more than the Default Budget, or a difference of less than four-tenths of one percent.

Those in favor say:  Most of the increase traces to Special Education costs and increases in the cost of Health Insurance.  The District worked very hard to keep the costs down for the taxpayers.

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

Fiscal Impact: Adoption of the Proposed Operating Budget will cause an increase in taxes of $9.12 for a Hampton home valued at $400,00.  Take your property valuation divided by 1000 and multiplied by .023 to get your cost.

SAU 90 Article 2: Collective Bargaining Agreement with Seacoast Educational Association

SAU 90 Article 2:  Shall the School District vote to approve the cost items included in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Hampton School Board and the Seacoast Educational Association covering the four year period from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2024 which calls for the following increases in salaries and benefits at the current staffing levels over those paid in the prior fiscal year.

Year                 Estimated Increase

2020-21          $ 433,336

2021-22          $ 469,392

2022-23         $ 483,817

2023-24      .  $ 493,033

and further raise and appropriate the sum of $433,336 for the 2020-21 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 in accordance with the most recent collective bargaining agreement? (Majority vote required.)

What it means:  These costs represent the increases negotiated by the School Board and the Seacoast Educational Association, which represents 119 teaching professionals. There is no cost of living increase in the first year, only the step increases of teachers who have achieved certain milestones (roughly 75 professionals).  Years 2 and 3 include a 2.25% increase; and Year 4 a 2.5% increase.  Teachers also gave back 3% in Health Insurance benefits, i.e. they will be bearing more of the cost for their premiums.

Those in favor say:  The Hampton School District State Assessment Scores are consistently higher than the state average by 15-30% (depending on the subject).  In order to attract and maintain high caliber employees, we need to pay competitively.  Hampton teachers have lagged behind neighboring towns in the last several years.

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

Fiscal Impact: If Article 2 is approved, it will cause an increase in taxes of $46.07 for a home valued at $400,000.  Take your property valuation divided by 1000 and multiplied by .115 to get your cost.

SAU 90 Article 3: Long-Term Maintenance of School Buildings

SAU 90 Article 3: Shall the School District vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $300,000 to continue long-term maintenance, repair and modernization work to include technical and/or engineering services at Hampton’s Marston and Centre school buildings and grounds? This article is a continuation of an annual program planned to keep the buildings updated and in good condition, thereby protecting the taxpayer’s investment. Projects planned for 2020-22 are listed below. This will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7 VI and will not lapse until these projects are completed or June 30, 2022, whichever is earlier? (Majority vote required.)

MARSTON SCHOOL

ADA improvements (district-wide)                                                        $ 5,000

LED lighting upgrades (phased)                                                             28,000

Remove oil tank 1980                                                                               35,000

Replace original classroom sinks and countertops (phased)               19,000

Replace door 3rd grade wing                                                                    4,900

Modify 3rd grade wing ADA accesses (drainage)                                    2,600

Replace Library window blinds 1996                                                        2,500

Security Doors at SAU                                                                              20,000

                                                                                                              $ 117,000

CENTRE SCHOOL

Modernization of 1991 passenger elevator                                          $ 100,000

LED lighting upgrades (phased)                                                                  28,000

Remove oil tank 1980                                                                                   35,000

Replace original classroom sinks and countertops (phased)                   20,000

                                                                                                                 $ 183,000

What it means: This article is a continuation of an annual program to keep the buildings updated and in good condition.

Those in favor say: Regular maintenance and upkeep helps to protect the taxpayer’s investment and to prevent more costly repairs down the line.

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

Fiscal Impact: A Hampton home valued at $400,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $ 31.90 in 2020.   Take your property valuation divided by 1000 and multiplied by .08 to get your cost. This decision is for the current year only.

SAU 90 Article 4: Child Benefit Services for Children Who Attend Sacred Heart School

SAU 90 Article 4: Shall the School District vote to raise and appropriate funds in the amount of $43,975 to provide child benefit services, in accordance with RSA 189:49, for students who are residents of the Hampton School District and attend Sacred Heart School located in Hampton, New Hampshire? BY PETITION. (Majority vote required.)

What it means: Sacred Heart School is a private school in Hampton. Some Hampton residents attend Sacred Heart as opposed to attending the Hampton public schools. This Article asks for an offset for child benefit services in lieu of the taxpayers paying for the students to attend public school.

Those in favor say: These students would otherwise be attending the public schools at an average cost per student of $15,000. These funds help to cover a nurse, educational technology, supplies and textbooks. Funds are not used for any religious purposes.

Those against say: Some people have expressed concerns about supporting a religious organization, even if the funds are not specifically used for religious purposes.

Fiscal Impact: A Hampton home valued at $400,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $4.68 in 2020 if this Article passes. Take your property valuation divided by 1000 and multiplied by .012 to get your cost. Approval of this Article affects the current year only.