Londonderry voters will have their last chance to have their say on what will appear on the election ballot Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Londonderry High School Cafeteria starting at 9 a.m. for the Town of Londonderry’s Deliberative Session of the Budgetary Town Meeting.
Elections will be held at the Londonderry High School Gymnasium on Tuesday, March 13, where voters will choose on Town Officers and to act upon the proposed Fiscal Year 2019 budget, that may be amended by the Deliberative Session. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
The Town Council and the Budget Committee unanimously recommended a YES vote on all but three articles.
Article 17, Budget Committee voted 5-2 with Council voting 5-0.
Article 18, had a 3-2 Council vote and a 7-0 Budget Committee vote.
Article 22, had the Town Council and Budget Committee unanimously recommending a NO vote.
Articles to be discussed are:
Article No. 2: Bond Issue For Improvements to Central Fire Station.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $6,400,000 for the purpose of making improvements to Central Fire Station. Said sum to be raised by the issuance of serial bonds or notes not to exceed $6,400,000 under and in compliance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (NH RSA Chapter 33) and to authorize the Town Council to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes, to determine the rate(s) of interest thereon and to take such other actions as may be necessary to effect the issuance, negotiation, sale and delivery of such bonds or notes as shall be in the best interest of the Town of Londonderry, and to authorize the Town Council to accept any funds from the State of New Hampshire, the Federal Government, and private sources as may become available, and pass any vote relating thereto. (3/5 ballot vote required).
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $0.00 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.00 in FY 19; $92,800 in property taxes, resulting in a tax impact of $0.02 – in FY 20; $505,600 in property taxes, resulting in a tax impact of $0.13 in FY 21, based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No 3: Town-Wide Communication Systems Upgrade
To see if the Town will vote to raise $2,300,000 for the purpose of upgrading the town-wide communications system and to authorize the use of $2,300,000 from the June 30 Unassigned Fund Balance toward this appropriation. This special warrant article will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will not lapse until the earlier of the completion of the town-wide communications system upgrade or June 30, 2021. (Majority vote required).
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $0.00 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.00 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 4: Fiscal Year 2019 Town Operating Budget
Shall the Town raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $31,707,838?
Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $31,707,838, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Town or by law; or the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $19,153,055 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $4.901 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 5: Police Outside Details
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $505,644 for the purpose of covering Police Outside Details with said funds to come from the Police Outside Detail Special Revenue Fund.
(These services are funded through user fees and require no property tax support.)
Article No. 6: Fund Sewer Fund
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $5,703,609 for defraying the cost of construction, payment of the interest on any debt incurred, management, maintenance, operation and repair of constructed sewer systems. Such fund shall be allowed to accumulate from year to year, shall not be commingled with town tax revenues, and shall not be deemed part of the municipality’s general fund accumulated surplus, all in accordance with RSA 149-I.
(These services are funded through user fees and require no property tax support.)
Article No. 7: Fund Sewer Fund Administrative Costs
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $220,000 for defraying the cost of debt service and administrative costs of operating the sewer department in accordance with RSA 149-I.
(These services are funded through user fees and require no property tax support.)
Article No. 8: Appropriate Funds To The Roadway Maintenance ETF
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $650,000 to be placed in the Roadway Maintenance Expendable Trust Fund and further to authorize the use of $325,000 from the June 30 Unassigned Fund Balance towards this appropriation.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $325,000 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.083 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 9: Appropriate Funds To Capital Reserve Fund For Fire Department Equipment
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $150,000 to be placed in the fire equipment capital reserve fund and further to authorize the use of $75,000 from the June 30 Unassigned Fund Balance towards this appropriation.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $75,000 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.019 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 10: Appropriate Funds To Capital Reserve Fund For Geographic Information Systems
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $28,000 to be placed in the geographic information systems capital reserve fund and further to authorize the use of $14,000 from the
June 30 Unassigned Fund Balance towards this appropriation.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $14,000 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.004 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 11: Appropriate Funds To Expendable Maintenance Trust Fund
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of ($180,000) to be placed in the Town’s Expendable Maintenance Trust Fund and further to authorize the use of $90,000 from the June 30 Unassigned Fund Balance towards this appropriation.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $90,000 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.023 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 12: Appropriate Funds To Capital Reserve Fund For Pillsbury Cemetery Expansion
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $100,000 to be placed in the Pillsbury Cemetery Expansion capital reserve fund and further to authorize the use of $100,000 from the June 30 Unassigned Fund Balance towards this appropriation.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $0.00 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.00 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 13: Appropriate Funds To Capital Reserve Fund For Cemeterie)
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $10,000 to be placed in the Cemetery capital reserve fund and further to authorize the use of $10,000 from the June 30 Unassigned Fund Balance towards this appropriation.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $0.00 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.00 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 14: Appropriate Funds To Capital Reserve Fund For Fire Department Trucks
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $70,000 to be placed in the Fire Truck capital reserve fund and further to authorize the use of $70,000 from the June 30 Unassigned Fund Balance towards this appropriation.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $0.00 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.00 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 15: Appropriate Funds For The Construction of a Recreation Maintenace Building
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $189,900 for the purpose of constructing a recreation maintenance building and further to authorize the use of $189,900 from the June 30 Unassigned Fund Balance towards this appropriation.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $0.00 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.00 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 16: [Commercial and Industrial Assessment Update]
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $100,000 for the purpose of completing a comprehensive review of all commercial and industrial properties as required by RSA 75:8-a, and further to authorize the use of $100,000 from the June 30 Unassigned Fund Balance towards this appropriation.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $0.00 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.00 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 17: Air and Water Quality Study
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $35,000 for the purpose of conducting a study of the town’s air and water quality.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $35,000.00 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.009 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 18: Continuation Of Sidewalk From Pillsbury Road To Wilshire Drive
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $250,000 for the purpose of continuing the sidewalk from Pillsbury Road to Wilshire Drive.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $250,000 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.064 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 19: Purchase Of Land On Sargent Road
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $95,000 for the purpose of purchasing approximately 1.3 acres of land on Sargent Road. Said land shall be subdivided from land currently owned by the American Legion.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $95,000 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.024 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 20: Withdrawal From Police Detail Special Revenue Fund
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $200,000 for the purpose of equipping the Police Department’s vehicles with emergency communications equipment, and to authorize the use of $200,000 from the Police Details Special Revenue fund towards this appropriation.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $0.00 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.00 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 21: Withdrawal From Police Detail Special Revenue Fund
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $28,000 to be added to the Town Facilities Expendable Maintenance Trust fund with said funds to come from the Police Details Special Revenue fund. This represents the funds previously withdrawn from the ETF which were expended for improvements to the Police Departments cruiser maintenance facility.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $0.00 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.00 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 22: Non Lapsing Special Article Funding Open Space
Shall the voters of the Town of Londonderry, vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000,000 for the purchase of land, easements or any other transaction that meets the mission of the Londonderry Conservation Commission? Such funds shall be placed in the Conservation Special Fund for such purposes as allowed by New Hampshire law, including the protection of open and wetland space. This will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will not lapse until June 30, 2022 or all funds are expended, whichever is sooner. By Citizens Petition.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $2,000,000.00 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.512 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 23: Recreation Commission – Replacing Lights At Nelson Road Softball Field
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate ($130,000) for the purpose of replacing the lighting system on the softball field located on Nelson Road. By Citizens Petition.
(If passed, this article will require the Town to raise $130,000.00 in property taxes, resulting in a tax rate impact of $0.033 in FY 19 based upon projected assessed values.)
Article No. 24: Transaction of Other Business
To transact any other business that may legally come before this meeting. No business enacted under this article shall have any binding effect upon the Town.