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Fiscal impact: No tax impact in 2026, as the funds would be withdrawn from the Unassigned Fund Balance.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

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $30,000 to be placed in the Hampton Conservation Fund? This Fund is used to “acquire, maintain, improve, protect or limit the future use of, or otherwise conserve and properly utilize,” open spaces and conservation easements in Hampton in accordance with RSA 36-A:4.

What it Means: This Fund is used by the Conservation Commission to protect open spaces via acquisition or conservation easements, on behalf of the Town. This Warrant Article helps to build the Fund so that it can be used to pay for future conservation opportunities as they are identified.  Examples of recent uses of the fund include the 2022 purchase of the Barkley Property and the establishment of a conservation easement there, and the 2019 establishment of a Conservation Easement on the Batchelder Farm.The Commission tries to build up this Fund gradually to help reduce, if not eliminate the need to ask the voters for additional dollars when conservation opportunities arise. The Commission always uses this fund first before going to the townspeople for additional financial support for these opportunities.

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

Fiscal impact: The estimated tax rate impact in 2026 is less than $0.01 per thousand. The estimated tax impact

for a home valued at $600,000 is $2.96.

To see if the Town will vote to change the existing Cemetery Maintenance Trust Fund, created in 1986 pursuant to RSA 31:19-a and amended in 2016, to the Cemetery Maintenance Capital Improvements and Expansion Trust Fund, to be administered by the Trustees of the Trust Fund; and to further authorize the Select Board as agents to expend principal and income from this fund. (2/3^rds Ballot vote required)

What it means: This fund was initiated in 1986 under the title of the “Cemetery Burial Trust Fund” for the maintenance of Town-owned cemeteries.  In 2016, the name was changed to “Cemetery Maintenance Trust Fund,” and allowed the legislative body (voters at Town Meeting) to make expenditures from both the principal and the interest in the Fund. The current question asks whether the Fund can be used to expand the capacity of the cemeteries (in addition to maintenance) and it changes the authority for making withdrawals from the voters to the Board of Selectmen. Note that because this is a change to a Trust Fund, 67% approval by the voters is required to pass.

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

Fiscal impact: No tax immediate impact. However, if the principal is depleted by virtue of the broader definition of the purpose of the Fund, future maintenance expenditures may need to be covered by other sources of revenue, such as taxes.

To see if the Town will vote to adopt the provisions of NH RSA 261:153 (VI) to levy an additional motor vehicle registration fee in the amount of $5.00 to support a municipal fund for improvements in the local or regional transportation system including roads, bridges, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, electric vehicle charging stations, parking and intermodal facilities, and public transportation. With the adoption of this article the Town shall establish a Capital Reserve Fund pursuant to RSA Chapter 35 to be known as the Municipal Transportation Improvement Fund, and to name the Select Board as agents to expend. The funds may be used for engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and constructions costs of transportation facilities, and for operating and capital costs of public transportation only. The funds may be used as matching funds for state or federal funds allocated for local or regional transportation improvements and shall not be used to offset any other non-transportation appropriations made by the Town.

What it means: This Article proposes a $5.00 surcharge on motor vehicle registrations to be deposited into a new Capital Reserve Fund that would support transportation needs including roads, bridges, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, electric vehicle charging stations, parking and intermodal facilities, and public transportation.

Fiscal Impact: There is no direct tax impact for this Article, but an additional $5.00 would be collected each time you register a vehicle.