Town Voter Information
Everything you need to be an informed voter!
Town Voter Information
Everything you need to be an informed voter!
March 15, 2025 - Town Meeting
9 am In Person Voting
Hollis High School; child care available
YES on 2
NO on 8,19
Some warrant articles include this statement: “No amount to be raised from taxation.” This statement is not fully explanatory. When money is unspent/leftover from a previous spending appropriation, it is called “unassigned funds.” The truth is: the taxpayer has already pre-paid this tax bill. The town could automatically send that money back to the taxpayer and reduce our property tax bills. The fact is: ALL spending is raised by taxing Hollis residents. There are a total of $330,000 such spending requests below.
Article 1 - Official Reports
Officials Reports is in reference to all the meeting materials and printed town reports that are available to all residents in Hollis both online and in physical book form.
Article 2 - Farley Building Renovation
Farley Building renovation is a bond warrant article – with a higher requirement for passage than a simple majority – it must receive 60% affirmative vote. The Farley building for those that do not know was a residence that was donated to the Town by Mary Farley many years ago and which served as the public school for many decades. It was returned to Town ‘ownership’ and custody by the Hollis School Board over a decade ago and has been in disrepair due to non-use.
The Selectboard initiated and selected a committee of residents and experts for the study of best options to preserve this property and convert it to community use. This follows two separate prior approved warrant articles which authorized $50,000 many years ago to stabilize the building from further decay, and in the last two years, another $300,000 to allow the town to have construction ready documents to present a budget for rehabilitation to the taxpayers – hence this Warrant Article seeks to achieve authorization of up to $4.8 million of funds – the estimated cost for restoration of the majority of the building (not including the attic at this time). The committee of volunteers has done an admirable job in bringing this warrant article for consideration, and the members feel confident they will be able to raise considerable sums in the form of private donations, should this Warrant Article pass – thereby reducing the amount required to be borrowed. While there will be no cost to the taxpayers in 2025 should this warrant article prevail, there will be costs in future years, depending on the length of maturity of the bond and the interest rate secured through the Bond Bank of NH or other private banks or institutions.
NOTE: This warrant article is recommended by the Selectboard, but not recommended by the Budget Committee.
Proponents generally cite the need for additional community space and to preserve a building in the heart of town.
Opponents generally cite high tax rates, some lack of clarity from the Farley committee on a path forward and frustration with lack of fundraising.
Recommendation: vote YES
Article 3- Aerial Fire Apparatus
This warrant article seeks to raise and appropriate $2,400,000 through an appropriate bond for the acquisition of fire equipment in the form of an aerial/ladder extension truck to replace the one that has reached the end of useful life of 22 years currently deployed in the Hollis Fire Department. This is also a BOND VOTE and will require affirmative support from 60% or more of those voting at the Town meeting. The likelihood of securing this truck in service within the next 12 months is unlikely given the backlog of demand for fire equipment, but the chief as well as the majority of the Selectboard and the unanimous support of the Budget Committee believe this is a warrant worthy of passage. At the time of the meeting there may be further clarity regarding purchase costs and terms and expected deliveries which the Fire Chief and Selectboard members will share with the public.
Article 4 - Expenditure of Unused Bond Funds
To see if the town will vote to authorize the expenditure of the unused portion of the bond approved in 2021 for the construction of a Public Works Facility and to raise and appropriate $154,603 in unused bond proceeds for the debt service payments on the Public Works Construction bond per RSA 33:3-a, II. This procedure is mandated to be presented in this manner by the Department of Revenue Administration in Concord . No amount of money needs to be raised by taxation; Recommendations required (3/5 ballot vote required).
What this really means is that the construction project involving the Department of Public Works new buildings and campus reorganization came in ahead of schedule and under budget, and these funds are left over. To use them to expedite bond repayment, this Warrant Article is required for passage.
NOTE: Both the Selectboard and Budget Committee support this warrant article.
Article 5- Dump Trucks Purchase for DPW
This article is not a bond warrant article, but seeks support from the majority of those in attendance and voting at Town Meeting to raise funds in the amount of $458,400 to secure two new dump/plow trucks for the DPW to replace aging and less efficient trucks from the fleet from 2009. It is anticipated that the two aged trucks will be sold to generate at least $10,000.00 which will reduce the ultimate amount coming from taxation to $448,400.00.
NOTE: Both the Selectboard and Budget Committee support this warrant article.
Article 6 - Hardy West Field
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $133,000 to do site preparation for a recreational facility on the Hollis Tax Maps Map 018, Lot 014, with $125,000 to come from Unassigned Fund Balance, and $8,000 to come from the sale of timber harvested on said location. (Majority Vote Required.) The money will be used to prepare a site for future use and placement of an athletic field with potential further consideration of tennis courts or other recreational uses to be evaluated and voted on in subsequent town meetings, depending on the input from the community, the recreation commission, the Selectboard, and the Budget Committee. The Board of Selectmen voted in the affirmative for this article 4-1. The Budget Committee by virtue of a tie vote of 4-4 does not support this article.
NOTE: This warrant article is recommended by the Selectboard, but not recommended by the budget committee.
ARTICLE 7 – Two (2) Police Vehicles
Last year the Town entered into a master lease program with Enterprise Fleet Management for vehicles in this department. As such, the two cruisers that need to be secured and outfitted for placement in service in 2025 are part of this master lease, and this vote authorizes the anticipated expenditure for these two vehicles in the amount of $22,697.00.
NOTE: Both the Selectboard and the Budget Committee support this article.
ARTICLE 8 – Land Use Change Tax
To see whether the Town will vote, pursuant to RSA 79-A:25 (IV), to amend certain action taken at the March Annual Town Meeting of 2019, which authorized that One Hundred percent (100%) of funds collected from the Land Use Change Tax (LUCT) to be deposited into the Conservation Fund, by decreasing the percentage amount to fifty percent (50%) to be deposited into the Conservation Fund. The vote shall take effect in the tax year beginning April 1, 2025. (Majority Vote Required.)Budget Committee (by vote of 8-0) and Selectboard (by vote of 4-1) are seeking public support to restore the original math equation to 50% for Town general fund and 50% for Conservation Fund. Should this article pass, it would go into effect from April 1, 2025, until any subsequent change by subsequent town meeting votes.
NOTE: This warrant article is recommended by the Selectboard and the Budget Committee
Explanation on recommendation
Six years ago, our town made a powerful commitment to conservation. By an overwhelming majority, we voted to allocate 100% of the Land Use Change Tax (LUCT) to the Conservation Fund, allowing the town's Conservation Commission to protect over 530 acres of land (at under half the time and cost of previous efforts) that would have otherwise been lost to development. Before this change, only 50% of LUCT was allocated to Hollis Conservation Commission efforts—severely limiting the town’s ability to preserve Hollis’ rural character in a high pressure development environment.
What is LUCT? It’s a tax paid by developers/land owners when converting open, undeveloped land into buildable lots. This tax exists expressly to promote land conservation. Redirecting these funds away from conservation contradicts its purpose and weakens one of the most effective tools we have to control development.
Why Is This On the Ballot?
The Budget Committee is looking for ways to fund other warrant articles without raising property taxes.
But here’s the problem:
Shortsighted budgeting shortcuts impacts the long-term future of Hollis, and over time, will actually INCREASE taxes. Do we want to protect our town’s open spaces, wildlife, and natural beauty, or do we want to open the door for greater development?
Voting NO keeps LUCT where it belongs—protecting the land that makes Hollis the town we love.
Protect our rural character. Protect our open spaces.
Recommendation: vote NO
ARTICLE 9 – Community Power
To see if the Town will vote to adopt the Hollis Community Power Electric Aggregation plan, to authorize the Selectboard to implement the plan, and to take all action in furtherance thereof, pursuant to RSA 53-E. The Hollis Community Power Electric Aggregation plan is an opt-out program that offers more flexible electricity procurement. The plan will initially provide lower electricity rates for residents, or it will not launch. Initial participation in the plan can be declined, after which enrollment becomes voluntary. Residents using Eversource as their default electricity supplier will be switched to Hollis Community Power Plan unless they specifically take action to opt-out. (Majority Vote Required. This vote is required to be taken to facilitate the actual implementation of the Community Power Electric Aggregation plan.
NOTE: This warrant article is recommended by the Selectboard and the Budget Committee.
ARTICLE 10 – Emergency Fire Vehicle Capital Reserve
This warrant article seeks to establish an Emergency Fire Vehicle Capital Reserve fund under RSA 35:1 to purchase and equip emergency fire vehicles and to raise an appropriate $50,000.00 to be placed in this fund with Selectboard named as agents to expend from said fund.
NOTE: This warrant article is recommended by the Selectboard, but not recommended by the budget committee.
ARTICLE 11 – Cemetery Expansion Expendable Trust Fund
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $10,000 to be placed in the Cemetery Expansion Expendable Trust Fund as previously established at the 2023 Annual Town Meeting. (Majority Vote Required.) Said funds to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance as of December 31, 2024. No amount to be raised from taxation, only as the voters are being asked to approve the transfer of $10,000 from the unassigned fund balance (prior taxes collected that remain unspent).
NOTE: This warrant article is recommended by the Selectboard, but not recommended by the Budget Committee.
Articles Cont 12-18
ARTICLE 12 – Old Home Day Special Revenue Fund
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000 for the purpose of sponsoring the Old Home Days event and to fund this appropriation by authorizing the withdrawal of said sum from the Old Home Day Special Revenue Fund. This article will not affect the tax rate, as these funds will be raised from fees and donations. (Majority Vote Required.)
Old Home Days is kind of like a harvest festival in Hollis usually in September. Unfortunately, last year, it suffered debilitating rain and poor participation as a result. However, it is a weekend of celebration of our community, and this Article appears every year as a ‘pass-through’ of money received through fees and donations for the event. Both Boards support this warrant article unanimously. There is no tax impact with the passage of this article
NOTE: This warrant article is recommended by the Selectboard and the Budget Committee.
Note on Articles 13 through 16
These are annual warrant articles to address issues such as having sufficient funds available for municipal employee retirements or separations, for municipal building maintenance, including town hall, the library, police and fire stations; the requirement for property revaluations by statute every five years, and a contingency fund for the unanticipated emergencies that may arise. All of the funds sought are being transferred upon approval from the unassigned fund balance to these separate funds for stated purposes.
NOTE: These warrant articles (13 - 16) are recommended by the Selectboard and the Budget Committee.
ARTICLE 13 – Compensated Absences Payable Expendable Trust Fund
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $70,000 to be placed in the Compensated Absences Payable Expendable Trust Fund as previously established at the 2002 Annual Town Meeting. (Majority Vote Required.) Said funds to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance as of December 31, 2024. No amount to be raised from taxation.
ARTICLE 14 – Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $14,500 to be placed in the Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund as previously established at the 1996 Annual Town Meeting. (Majority Vote Required.) Said funds to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance as of December 31, 2024. No amount to be raised from taxation.
ARTICLE 15 – Municipal Buildings & Facilities Maintenance Expendable Trust Fund
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $200,000 to be placed in the Municipal Buildings and Facilities Maintenance Expendable Trust Fund as previously established at the 2008 Annual Town Meeting and amended by the 2009 Annual Town Meeting. (Majority Vote Required.) Said funds to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance as of December 31, 2024. No amount to be raised from taxation.
ARTICLE 16 – Establish a Contingency Fund
To see if the Town will authorize the establishment of a contingency fund under the provisions of RSA 31:98-a for the purpose of funding unanticipated expenses that may arise during the year. Furthermore, to raise and appropriate $50,000 towards this purpose and appoint the Select Board as agents to expend from said fund. (Majority Vote Required.) Said funds to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance as of December 31, 2024. No amount to be raised from taxation.
Article 17 – Municipal Transportation Capital Reserve Fund
Several years ago, the voters approved a measure to secure funding for public transportation by the ‘Big Blue Bus’ for those with health challenges or needing transportation to secure groceries, visit dentists or doctors, or other covered needs. Over the years the $1 per vehicle registration collected from this activity has generated considerably more money than is currently being spent on public transport – so this warrant article reduces, but not eliminates, this tradition by changing the $1.00 per vehicle registration to $0.25 per vehicle. Both Boards support this article.
ARTICLE 18 – 2025 Operating Budget
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $14,675,300, which represents the operating budget of the Town for 2025, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately. (Majority Vote Required.) On a per capita basis – assuming a population of 8753, the cost of operating the town (absent the school costs) is $1676.60 per year for 2025, or just under $140.00 per month. This cost covers ambulance and paramedic support, fire protection, communications center, police protection, DPW road maintenance, transfer station operating costs, town hall, recreation, planning and building department functions, tax collection, etc.
NOTE: This warrant article is recommended by the Selectboard and the Budget Committee.
ARTICLE 19 – Petition Article – State Education Freedom Accounts
To see if the Town of Hollis will vote to request that the New Hampshire State Legislature eliminate the use of local property taxes for the funding of private and religious education and direct the Town's State Representatives and Senator to oppose the use of property tax revenue for Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) or any other private school programs that take our tax dollars out of Hollis public schools and increase our local tax obligation.
Explanation on recommendation
Citizen Petition Warrant Article – Education Freedom Accounts This citizen petition warrant article asks Hollis residents to send a statement to our State Representatives and Senator, urging them to oppose legislative efforts to pass Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs). This Petition Article is misrepresented. Your taxes never leave Hollis. The only money that leaves Hollis is your state money, your child’s money from the state that goes with you. Easy to separate state money. They leave the federal money and property tax money in the town. It does not follow the student.
Recommendation: vote NO