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.