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RECOMMENDATIONS
Leave our zoning laws alone. Many of these recommendations have probably come from outside parties and should NOT be implemented in Hampton. The town should not feel comfortable redefining and amending definitions and town zones currently.
Article #10 - $2,500,000 bond – VOTE NO
This work is needed but the money appropriation should not be bonded at this time with inflated interest rates. According to the article it will be an additional $1,500,000 in interest. Selectmen should have been able to come up with a more efficient way of funding this, such as existing monies and seeking state grant opportunities.
Article #11 – VOTE YES
This amount should be 100% offset by loan forgiveness.
Article #12 - VOTE YES
This amount should be 100% offset by loan forgiveness.
Article #13 – Operating Budget - VOTE NO – Here is why.
2024 Wages, Benefits, & Retirement - $22,460,723 or 64% of total budget. Not much of the budget covers actual town operations. The make-up and adjustment of wages is not always completely transparent, especially with non-union employees, wage adjustments are done by management, approved by the BOS and usually use the currently highly inflated Consumer Price Index (CPI) and cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments. These salary adjustments DO NOT go before the voters to accept.
NOTE: These contractual negotiations are coming to the people for a vote, unlike non-union contracts.
Article #18 – VOTE NO
Article #19 – VOTE NO - Road paving work should be included in the annual operating budget. Current this fund has about $3 million unspent.
Article #20 – VOTE NO - How where these locations in town chosen, lacking transparency?
Where are they listed on the capital improvement plan?
Article #21 – VOTE NO - This work should be included in the annual operating budget.
Article #22 – VOTE YES - This will come from existing monies collected in the Town Parks and Recreation Fund
Article #23 – VOTE YES – The annual appropriation to Human Service Agencies
Article #24 – VOTE YES
Standard appropriation without a town tax impact.
Article #25 – VOTE YES
Article #26 – VOTE YES
NOTE: This turnout gear in important and the annual appropriation should really be a part of the operating budget.
Article #27 – VOTE YES
Article #28 – VOTE YES
Article #29 – Town proposed elderly exemption increase – VOTE NO
Petitioned article #33 will be able to reach more taxpayers in Hampton that may need the exemption. The Town sponsored article only raised allowed income for single from $38,000 up to $42,0000 and leaves the income for married at $58,000. Barnes petition raises it to $100,000 and $200,000 respectively. Barnes petition also raises net assets (not including primary Hampton residence) from $250,000 up to $500,000.
Article #30 – VOTE YES
Article #31 – VOTE YES
Article #32 – VOTE YES
We have left this task up to the selectmen, planning board, and zoning board and they have failed. Our telecommunications ordinance has NOT been updated since 1999. The public needs to participate in this effort.
Article #33 – Barnes petitioned elderly exemption increase – VOTE YES
Petitioned article #33 will be able to reach more taxpayers in Hampton that may need the exemption. The Town sponsored article only raised allowed income for single from $38,000 up to $42,0000 and leaves the income for married at $58,000. Barnes petition raises it to $100,000 and $200,000 respectively. Barnes petition also raises net assets (not including primary Hampton residence) from $250,000 up to $500,000.
Article #34 – VOTE YES
Article #35 – VOTE YES
Article #36 – NO POSITION
Article #37 – VOTE YES
Article #38 – VOTE YES
Article #39 – NO POSITION
Article #40 – VOTE NO – refunds will cost taxpayers money.
