To see if the Town of Hampton will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $385,940 for the purpose of purchasing three items; a trailer for transporting refuse; a one-ton truck with plow, wing and spreader; and a ¾ ton truck with plow; including all associated equipment to put said vehicles in service. Said funds of $385,940 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance. The replaced vehicle(s) to be traded in or sold as deemed to be prudent by the Public Works Director, Town Manager, and the Select Board. This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the purchase is completed or by March 31, 2031, whichever is sooner.

What it means: DPW is requesting a refuse transportation trailer, a ¾-ton truck with plow, and a one-ton truck with wing and plow.  Each of these are currently part of the fleet, and all of them have condition issues.  The funding will come from the Unassigned Fund Balance.

Those in favor say: These vehicles are needed to provide the services that the Town needs and expects. Six of the seven trailers that DPW has in the fleet are from 2012 and there have been multiple mechanical issues that the department has been able to repair in order to maintain the storage and transport capacity. The existing ¾-ton truck has been taken out of service due to a cracked frame.  The one-ton truck is from 2004 and is no longer usable for wing operations. This equipment is needed to provide the expected services.

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

Fiscal impact: No tax impact in 2026, as the funds would be withdrawn from the Unassigned Fund Balance.

To see if the Town of Hampton will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $220,000 for the Parks and Recreation Department to purchase a 14-passenger bus with wheelchair lift, for transportation to Recreation-sponsored events; and to purchase a heavy-duty 4WD pick-up truck with plow; and to contribute to the repair, replacement, service or maintenance of the fields, grounds and equipment, as determined to be in the best interests of the Town, and to authorize the withdrawal of said sum of $220,000 from the Hampton Recreation Infrastructure Special Revenue Fund previously established under Article 44 of the 2007 Annual Town Meeting.  This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the improvements are completed or by March 31, 2031, whichever occurs sooner.

What it Means: This Article seeks to use funds from the Hampton Recreational Infrastructure Special Reserve Fund established in 2007, to replace two existing vehicles used by the Parks and Recreation Department, which are aging and have become costly to repair.  The van to be replaced is a 2015 bus which is having electrical and transmission issues. The truck is used to maintain all the fields and facilities and is also experiencing transmission problems.

Those in favor say: There was general support expressed for the Parks and Recreation Department. It was also noted that 20% of the parking revenue from municipal lots helps to fund the Hampton Recreational Infrastructure Special Reserve Fund, so there is no need to raise taxes for these purchases.

No one spoke against this Article at Deliberative Session.

Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact, as the funds are put aside for this purpose and only need voter approval for the intended use.

To see if the Town of Hampton will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $176,611 for the purpose of funding the following twenty-one (21) human service agencies in the Seacoast area in the amounts requested for 2026. These agencies shall be required to give a written report at the end of their fiscal year 2026 to the Select Board highlighting what the funds were used for and what impact the funds had in assisting them to achieve their goals and objectives.

What it means: This article asks voters to approve funding for a group of nonprofit human service agencies serving Hampton. The Town’s contribution helps support programs that provide food assistance, housing support, health services, family services, senior services, and related community-based support that might otherwise fall to the Town’s Welfare Department. The amount asked is exactly the same as in 2025 for all agencies.  All dollar amounts have been derived based upon the number of Hampton residents who are served.

Fiscal impact: The estimated tax rate impact in 2026 is $0.01 per thousand. The estimated tax impact for a home valued at $600,000 is $8.13.

To see if the Town of Hampton will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $153,000 for the purpose of purchasing a Capacity Yard Truck, including all associated equipment to put the vehicle in service, said funds to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance. The new vehicle will replace a 2007 Diesel Yard Truck which is used daily, year-round, to move the trash and recycling trailers. This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the purchase is completed or by March 31, 2031, whichever is sooner.

What it means: The new vehicle will replace a 2007 Diesel Yard Truck which is used everyday, year-round, to move the trash and recycling trailers.

Those in favor say: Recent repairs include alternator, ignition switch, circuit board and pressure system. The new vehicle will have a hydraulic connection to push or move loads. Without hydraulics currently, other equipment needs to be used to accomplish the task, thus requiring more involvement from personnel.

No one spoke against this Article at Deliberative Session.

Fiscal impact: No tax impact in 2026, as the funds would be withdrawn from the Unassigned Fund Balance.

To see if the Town of Hampton will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $121,578, including salary and benefits, for the purpose of employing  an Economic Development Director to advance Hampton’s Master Plan, coordinate communications, secure and manage grants, and foster partnerships with businesses, not-for-profits, developers, and state agencies, starting on April 1, 2026? The estimated full year cost in 2027 for this position is $162,018, including salary and benefits; all future costs for this position will be included in Town operating budget and default budget going forward.

What it means: This Article asks to create a new position of Economic Development Director to manage and advance the implementation of Hampton’s Master Plan and work to increase non-residential sources of tax revenue.  Currently, interactions with potential developers are spread among the Town’s departments.  The job description can be found here:

https://intheknowhampton.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-Article-22Economic-Development-Director-2.pdf

Those in favor say: This position will be the interface between the Town Departments and prospective developers and businesses, and will help increase the value of business presence in Hampton.  It was expressed that this position would result in the expansion of the Town’s commercial presence, to ease the tax burden on residential properties (which currently account for 90% of the tax base).  Other towns have established this position, and have experienced positive growth to tax revenue from business properties.  Hampton won’t know what the offsets might be until it is tried.

Those opposed say:  It was expressed that this was a good idea but that the job description was too vague and perhaps not ready to implement. The cost could easily grow with the need for support staff for the position. It was also noted that land for development in Hampton is scarce and that recent proposals to develop or redevelop were met with resistance from residents. One person said that more data is needed to justify the added headcount.

Fiscal impact: The estimated tax rate impact in 2026 is roughly $.02 per thousand. The estimated tax impact for a home valued at $600,000 is $11.98.  Thereafter, the costs of salaries and benefits would be included in future proposed and default budgets.

To see if the Town of Hampton will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $100,000 for the purpose of adding to the Municipal Buildings Capital Reserve Fund previously established under Article 22 of the 2025 Town Meeting.  Said sum of $100,000 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance.

What it means: The Article is asking to add funds to a Capital Reserve Fund (CRF) that was established in 2025 specifically for maintaining, repairing and upgrading town-owned buildings. The intention is to have the funds for needed repairs or upkeep, and the Board of Selectmen have been named as agents – meaning that they can make withdrawals as needed.  The $100,000 that will be deposited to this CRF would come from the Unassigned Fund Balance, and would not have a fiscal impact in 2026.

No one spoke for or against this Article at Deliberative Session, other than to explain it.

Fiscal impact: No tax impact in 2026, as the funds would be withdrawn from the Unassigned Fund Balance.

To see if the Town of Hampton will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $90,000 for the purpose of conducting all lawful functions allowed under federal, state, and local criminal justice forfeiture programs and to authorize the withdrawal of said sum of $90,000 from the Police Forfeiture Special Revenue Fund previously established under Article 55 of the 2003 Town Meeting.

What it means: During police operations, items of value may be forfeited by individuals. NH law permits the auctioning of abandoned property, and the proceeds are put into a fund. This Article would allow the funds to be withdrawn to cover departmental costs, as approved via the RSAs. The actual amount is unknown at voting time. The $90,000 is seen as the upper limit of what may be available to withdraw.

No one spoke for or against this Article at Deliberative Session, other than to explain it.

Fiscal impact: There would be no tax impact, since this money is in a set-aside fund. This is a routine measure to allow the withdrawal of the funds for various Police Department needs.

To see if the Town of Hampton will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $80,000 for the purpose of conducting a survey and preliminary design of a new drainage system in the area of Ann’s Terrace for the purpose of alleviating flooding and creating a drainage system that does not currently exist, said funds to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance.   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, 2031, whichever is sooner.

What it means: This Article seeks to fund a survey and preliminary design for a drainage system for the area of Ann’s Terrace which currently has no municipal drainage system.

Those in favor say: Ann’s Terrace is flat and is routinely flooded by rain and snow melt. Long-term residents have seen flooding conditions worsen with more intense storms, continued development and granted variances, adversely affecting an already strained drainage area that has no municipal drainage system. Residents have done what they can by preserving natural drainage paths, maintaining French drains and the use of sand bags.  Ann’s Terrace is not located in a flood zone but basements and garages flood from the run-off waters.  Municipal drainage would also benefit residents of the entire area including Ann’s Lane and Dearborn Ave.

No one spoke against this Article at Deliberative Session

Fiscal impact: No tax impact in 2026, as the funds will be withdrawn from the Unassigned Fund Balance.

To see if the Town of Hampton will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $40,000 for the purpose of adding to the Firefighters Turn Out Gear/Personal Protective Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously established under Article 17 of the 2019 Town Meeting.  Said sum of $40,000 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance.

What it means: In 2019, voters approved $200,000 for a new Capital Reserve Fund for the replacement of Firefighter’s Protective Gear. This fund needs to be added to regularly, so that as gear is replaced using money withdrawn from the fund, additional funds will be available for the next round of replacements. Currently, the PPE the Town purchases through this fund includes firefighter coat (roughly $2,500), pants (roughly $2,200) and boots ($700). This Article would transfer the funds from the Unassigned Fund Balance to the Turnout Gear Reserve Fund.

Those in favor say: This is an annual procedure to keep our Firefighters safe. A single set of firefighting gear costs over $5,000. There are strict standards with regard to the amount of service before the gear must be replaced, and that has meant 4-5 new sets of equipment each year. To cover this expense, a reserve fund was established in 2019 and needs to be regularly replenished. This Article allows funds to be taken from the Unassigned Fund Balance for the replenishment.

Fiscal impact: No tax impact in 2026, as the funds will be withdrawn from the Unassigned Fund Balance.