We the undersigned registered voters of the town of Hampton request for you to insert in the town warrant for 2021 town meeting the following article:

To see if the town will vote to update the code of ethics for the Board of Selectmen to include a social media policy and create an ethics committee which will have an appointed representative and an alternate representative from the select board, planning board, budget committee and the trustees of the library each of these representatives will be appointed by these elected bodies first thing after the annual town meeting to serve one year term in the committee.

The purposes of the committee should be as follows:

1. Space to agent complaints and make recommendations concerning violations of the code of ethics.
2. To disseminate the code of ethics and educate the public officials and the public about the code.
3. To review annually proposals for revising the code of ethics.

What it means: This Article seeks to update the existing Code of Ethics to include guidelines with regard to members of the Board of Selectmen and statements made using social media.  Further, a Board of Ethics would be assembled to review perceived violations and make recommendations, and to help educate public officials on expected ethical behavior.

Those in favor say: The Existing Code of Ethics was written before social media became an integral part of our way of communication.  There should be some guidelines as to what is expected of public officials, and some way of holding them accountable.

Those against say: Those opposed cited potential issues vis-à-vis the First Amendment.  Another speaker noted that those who have an issue with an elected official can vote accordingly the next time an offending official is up for reelection. It was also noted that the Article is somewhat vague regarding the operations of the proposed Ethics Committee.

Other statement: Town Counsel noted that towns only have the authority granted to them by the state via the RSA’s.  If approved, this Article would be advisory only (not binding) due to the lack of authority granted.  More information about Town Counsel’s point of view can be found by clicking here.

Fiscal impact:  There is no direct tax impact if Article 22 is approved.

On petition of Mary-Louise Woolsey, and at least 25 registered voters, shall our Town of Hampton voters stipulate that no future sitting Board of Selectmen shall be allowed to create a whole new paid position, unless that Board submits a warrant article describing and justifying said position and the salary needed to support it?

What it means: No new salaried position could be added to the Town’s payroll without first having a Warrant Article justify the position, and having the voters approve it.

Those in favor say: Many people think that this requirement already exists – that a new position must be approved by the voters.  Taxpayers should not be required to fund a new position that they have not approved.

Those against say: The language is not specific enough – would any new position need to await the March election to be approved?  For example, would an additional lifeguard or camp counselor position need to await Town Meeting?

Other statement: Town Counsel noted that towns only have the authority granted to them by the state via the RSA’s.  If approved, this Article would be advisory only (not binding) due to the lack of authority granted.

Fiscal impact:  There is no direct tax impact if Article 23 is approved.

 

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 $24,400,670? Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $24,249,206, 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 $151,464 more than the Default Budget, or a difference of six-tenths of one percent.  This difference, according to materials presented at the SAU 90 Deliberative Session, breaks out as follows:

Those in favor say:  The following rationale was provided for the increase requested:

Non-Union Increases – The Hampton School District has fallen behind nearby districts with regard to salaries.  As a result, it is difficult to fill positions that are important to the running of the schools, such as custodial workers and food service workers.

Assistant Principal and Psychologist – Three positions that had been funded were eliminated, saving $105,471 on an on-going basis.  This was done to help cover positions that are considered to be essential, including an Assistant Principal at Centre School, and a Psychologist (a needed function, given the negative mental effects of the pandemic on the students).  The net of the savings and the increases due to the new positions adds $33,981to the budget amount.

Food Services Director – This change was reviewed with auditors, who concurred that most school districts have the Food Services Director position in the main budget, not as part of food services.  There is a corollary decrease in the food services budget, but it still counts an increase in the operating budget.

Additional Comments:  Addressing the issue of enrollment changes from year to year, the cost of salaries and overhead make up the bulk of the school budget and those items do not change when student enrollment decreases slightly, especially when enrollment can increase again the following year.  For example, enrollment was 1,087 in the Fall of 2017, and fell to 1,057 in the Fall of 2018, only to increase again in 2019 to 1,084.  In 2020, the enrollment fell again due to parents deciding to place children in private schools and/or to home school the children due to the pandemic.  Some of those children will return to the public school when the pandemic has calmed.

Most households in Hampton can expect an increase of less than $20 to support the Operating Budget over the Default Budget for SAU 90.

Those against say:  Although this year’s increase is less than one percent, over the past several years, the school budget has been increasing.  The voters agreed to three School Resource Officers, which added to the budget, and the cost of the bond financing for Hampton Academy has also added to ongoing budget requirements.  Some people against the proposed operating budget point to declining enrollment as a reason for holding firm on the school’s budget.

Fiscal Impact: Adoption of the Proposed Operating Budget will cause an increase in taxes of $65.01 for a Hampton home valued at $400,000.  Take your property valuation divided by 1000 and multiplied by .163 to get your cost. Should this Article fail, the Default Budget will incur an increased tax of $48.91 for the home valued at $400,000. The differential budget being voted on is $16.10 for the example valuation.

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 a one-year period from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 which calls for the following increases in salaries and benefits at the current staffing levels over those paid in the prior fiscal year, and raise and appropriate the sum of $407,069 for the 2021-22 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, representing 118 teaching professionals.

Those in favor say: Last year’s contract was not approved by the voters, so no teacher in Hampton received any pay raise.  The contract immediately prior to last year called for 4 years at one-half of one percent raise, while neighboring schools were advancing in the range of 2% per year.  Nevertheless, last year’s contract failed by 45 votes.  Three days later, the schools were closed due to the pandemic.  All teachers needed to pivot their entire methodology to accommodate both in-person and remote teaching.  This required enormous effort, many hours and a great deal of patience from our teachers.  While teachers have received high praise for what they have accomplished under very trying circumstances, the Hampton School District has fallen behind with regard to its pay scale, and we need to approve the contract to help Hampton to retain our excellent teachers.  The total dollar amount that is requested this year is below that which was requested in last year’s (failed) by $26,000.

• See Salary Comparisons for Local Schools

Those against say: No one spoke against this Article at the SAU 90 Deliberative Session.

Fiscal Impact: If Article 2 is approved, it will cause an increase in taxes of $43.27 for a home valued at $400,000.  Take your property valuation divided by 1000 and multiplied by .108 to get your cost.

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 2021-23 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, 2023, whichever is earlier?  (Majority vote required.)

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 protect the taxpayer’s investment and helps prevent more costly repairs down the line. Centre School has been in need of an HVAC upgrade for at least 15 years.  The pandemic has focused more attention and more urgency on the air quality.  The school has been using air scrubbers (acquired through a grant) to clean the air, but this is a “band-aid” approach.  The school needs the HVAC work.

It pays to continually invest in the maintenance of the schools.  At Centre School, there are three buildings dating to 1927, 1959 and the “new” addition dates back over 20 years to 1999.   If we needed to replace the square footage of Centre School, it would cost the taxpayers over $13 million dollars ($250 per square feet; 53,000 square feet.)  Similarly, Marston School would cost $18 million to replace 71,000 square feet.

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

Fiscal Impact: A Hampton home valued at $400,000 would bear a tax cost of $31.89 in 2021, identical to the amount from last year.  Take your property valuation divided by 1000 and multiplied by .079 to get your cost. This decision is for the current year only.

 

Shall the School District vote to raise and appropriate funds in the amount of $69,542 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 students 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. Due to the pandemic, more Hampton students took advantage of enrollment at Sacred Heart School in 2020.

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 $7.39 in 2021 if this Article passes. Take your property valuation divided by 1000 and multiplied by .018 to get your cost. Approval of this Article affects the current year only.

SAU 21 is a cooperative school district, meaning that several towns join resources.  For Hampton, this only affects Winnacunnet High School.  It is an important component of Hampton’s taxes, however, since Hampton is responsible for about half of SAU 21’s operating budget.  Budgets are calculated based on the number of students enrolled, and the real estate valuation of the combined towns (Hampton, North Hampton, Seabrook, South Hampton and Hampton Falls).

Aside from the election of officers, there are only 2 Articles on the SAU 21 Ballot this year.