Winnacunnet School District

5 Warrant Articles

For your consideration from Winnacunnet School Board Candidate Frank Bajowski

1. Operating budget – NO! 

Reason: The Default Budget is only ~$176,000  less than requested.

• Enrollment has been declining, as has standardized testing scores while Special education costs almost as much as for all other students.
• $8 million for general education (including increases to English as a second language) but an additional ~$4.6 million (20.53% increase) for special education. Special ed costs 58% of the education for the vast majority of 1,067 students.
• $1.65 million just for Special ed transportation
• Alternative to Suspension Program
• $1.2 million to Seacoast Youth Services to provide “non-punitive” suspension to troublemakers

2. Collective bargaining agreements for paraprofessional tutors (they reportedly earn $15 per hour or about the same as in a fast food restaurant) –  YES

•   $60,000 per year increase

3. HVAC upgrades –  YES

• $400,000

4. Roof replacement, gymnasium –  YES

•  $1 million per year for 3 years

Regards, Frank Bajowski

WARRANT ARTICLE RECOMMENDATIONS

Updated on 03/04/2024

Zoning Articles #2 – #9 – VOTE NO

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.

Article #14 – #17 – Union Contracts – VOTE YES

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

Article #20 – VOTE NO

How where these locations in town chosen, lacking trasnparency?

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