NHLA Legislator Ratings Are Out for 2009 – Click Here for PDF File

The Town of Atkinson is asking for Four Million One Hundred Thirty Four Thousand, Six Hundred Sixty-nine Dollars ($4,134,669) This represents an increase of almost 3.6% over 2008. This is after $450,000.00 was taken from the unreserved fund to offset the tax rate.

This is the worse economic time in over 25 years. We do not need a bigger budget.

The following budget line items with proposed increases over what was expended in 2008:

Legal Fees 1,495.00
Personnel Admin 2,321.00
Planning and Zoning 6,703.00
Buildings 28,220.00
Cemeteries 1,770.00
Insurance 5,312.00
Advertising 151.00
Police Department 124,657.00
Elderly Affairs 10,097.00
Building Inspector 210.00
Homeland Security 150.00
Highway Department 25,009.00
Sanitation 37,049.00
Health & Welfare 13,535.00
Culture & Recreation 68,004.00
Conservation 33.00

Article 2009-7 Multiple-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement

To see if the Town of Atkinson will vote to approve the cost item included in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Board of Selectmen and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local #563 which calls for the following increases in salaries and benefits at the current staffing level:

Yearly Estimated Increases

2009 $6,978
2010 $15,679
2011 $18,993

…and further, to raise and appropriate the sum of Six Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy-eight Dollars ($6,978) for the current fiscal year, such sum representing the additional costs attributable to the increase in salaries and benefits over those of the appropriation at the current staffing level paid in the prior fiscal year?

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–The town employees will not be receiving raises

Article 2009-8 Authorization for Special Meeting on Defeated Collective Bargaining Agreement

If Article 2009-7 is defeated, shall the Town of Atkinson authorize the governing body to call one Special Meeting, at its option, to address article 2009-7 cost items only (Majority vote)

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–If the town votes down Article 2009-7 it should remain defeated

Article 2009-9 Operating Budget

Shall the Town of Atkinson 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 for the first session, for the purpose set forth therein, totaling Four Million One Hundred Thirty Four Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-nine Dollars ($4,134,669) Should this article be defeated, the Default Budget shall be Three Million, Nine Hundred Ninety-two Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty-three Dollars ($3,992,853) which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Town of Atkinson 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. (Majority vote required)

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
– The proposed budget roughly doubles last years Elderly Affairs budget due to separation from the Police Dept. yet the Police Dept budget was not decreased accordingly.
– Increase in the Library Budget
– Economic conditions indicate frugality by all.

Article 2009-12 Recreation Capital Reserve Fund

Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) to be added to the Recreation Capital Reserve Fund? The purpose of this fund is the acquisition, design, renovation, and development of recreation areas, to include but not limited to fields and playgrounds. This article is in addition to Article 2009-9, the Operating Budget.

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–Not a necessary expenditure in these economic times

Article 2009-15 Cable Television Capital Reserve Fund

Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate up to the sum of Twenty-one Thousand Dollars ($21,000) to purchase remote recording and editing equipment for off-site broadcasting and other minor equipment needs, and to authorize the withdrawal of Twenty-one Thousand Dollars ($21,000) from the Cable Television Capital Reserve Fund established for this purpose. As of 9-30-08 the balance of this fund was in excess of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000). No new tax dollars are needed for this article. This article is in addition to Article 2009-9, the Operating Budget.

VOTE YES: Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–Does not affect the bottom line

Article 2009-16 Police Station Generator

Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate up to the sum of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) to purchase and install a stand-by, self-starting, propane electric generator which will provide enough electricity to power the Police Station in an emergency situation, thus allowing the Police Department to remain operational during a power outage? The installation of said generator will be under the supervision of the Town’s Building Maintenance Supervisor. This article is in addition to Article 2009-9, the Operating Budget.

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–Unsubstaniated cost, no bids solicited.
–Consultation with the Electrical Inspector is not documented
–Specific technical needs have not been formally addressed

Article 2009-29 Petition: Posting Tax Information

By Petition: “To see if the voters will vote to direct the selectmen/assessor to post all property tax cards information on the town web site, so taxpayers will not have to take a day off from work when they need that information. When passed, this warrant article will become effective immediately.”

VOTE YES: Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association

Article 2009-31 Petition: Improve Elderly Services

By Petition: “Shall the town of Atkinson direct the Board of Selectmen to implement Elderly Affairs and handicapped programs regardless of age, as budgeted and discussed in 2008 for 2009?”

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–Article improperly limits the program

Article 2009-32

By Petition: “Shall the Police Department command structure remain the same as prescribed under the RSA’S?”

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–There is no structure defined in the RSA’s

Results of Voting on Atkinson’s 3 Groundwater Protection articles:

Article to amend and legally strengthen the previously passed Atkinson Water Withdrawal Control Ordinance — passed by 74.27 % (632-219)

Article to direct the Selectmen to make the Water Withdrawal Control Ordinance also a Health Ordinance — passed by 75.7% (692-222)

Article to designate 6 especially important groundwater recharging areas as “Prime Wetlands” – passed by 76.3 % (693- 215)

Atkinson voters continue to be very strongly protective of the environmental quality of life of Atkinson. As always, warrant articles which deal with protecting Atkinson’s ground water quality, resources and supplies pass by landslide votes.

NH PUC Order of Notice #DW 08-088

Warrant Articles for 2008

Voting day is Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at the Atkinson Community Center.