Hampton, NH Sold Out: Backroom Deals, Broken Oversight, and Your Tax Dollars

Hampton Was Sold—Taxpayers Were Not Consulted

At the April 13, 2026 Selectmen’s meeting, the reality came into focus: the Board didn’t just accept federal ARPA money—they traded away control over the town’s future.

Under funding tied to the Joe Biden administration, Hampton is being steered toward subsidized workforce housing backed by incentives for developers and the town alike. This wasn’t careful stewardship—it looked like a deal already decided, dressed up as progress, and celebrated with back-patting instead of scrutiny.

One voice stood apart.

Former Selectman Barnes—later voted off the Board—refused to go along. She abstained because the Board and Town Manager could not clearly answer basic questions about the terms and obligations tied to the ARPA agreement. That wasn’t obstruction—that was due diligence. And for it, she was pushed out.

Selectmen Selective Outrage: Legal Fees vs. Reckless Spending

Now, some Selectmen claim concern over rising legal costs, pointing to a case before the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

Let’s be precise:

Legal costs are up significantly year over year. And yes, litigation plays a role. But here’s what they’re not emphasizing: There are multiple lawsuits involving the town—not just one.

More importantly, they show no comparable concern when it comes to how taxpayer money is spent elsewhere.

The clearest example:

$145,000 paid to a contractor for a statistical revaluation. That revaluation didn’t just raise eyebrows—it failed to hold up under scrutiny. Both taxpayers and proceedings before the Board of Tax and Land Appeals (BTLA) have shown it did not meet required standards.

Yet:

No urgency

No outrage

No accountability

The same Board that worries about legal bills is comfortable writing six-figure checks for work that doesn’t pass muster.

The Reality

This isn’t about one vote or one lawsuit.

It’s a pattern:

Push through major decisions with long-term consequences,

Dismiss or sideline dissent,

Spend heavily when it suits them,

Then raise alarms only when consequences arrive.

Hampton taxpayers aren’t just funding these decisions—they’re absorbing the fallout.

The question now isn’t what happened.

It’s whether anyone on that Board will be held accountable for it.