Learn About the Six Ballot Questions for 2022

Monday, May 16, 2022 – Polls are open 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Hopkinton Middle School Brown Gym, 88 Hayden Rowe St

Hopkinton Annual Town Election Specimen Ballot – May 16, 2022 (PDF)

Hopkinton 2022 Annual Town Election – Ballot Question Explanations (PDF)

Question 1: 

Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to purchase a replacement fire engine for Fire Engine 2, including equipment related to the operation and use of said fire engine? Read more documentation on Fire Engine 2.

At the 2022 Annual Town Meeting (“ATM”), the Town voted to raise and appropriate $736,318 for the purpose of replacing Fire Engine 2, and to meet that appropriation by authorizing the Town to borrow the funds to cover that cost. This borrowing was made contingent upon the passage of a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 ½, authorizing a temporary increase in the Town’s tax levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this item. A YES vote would mean that the borrowing is approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the borrowing is disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days.

Tax Impact: The peak year tax impact for principal and interest payments on this proposed debt is just under $11 for a homeowner with Hopkinton’s “average” house, which is valued at $681,100.

Question 2: 

Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to pay for upgrades and repairs in the vicinity of Fire Station No. 2 (Woodville)? Read more about the repairs to the Woodville Fire Station.

At the 2022 ATM, the Town voted to appropriate $400,000 for the payment of costs for the renovation of the Woodville Fire Station, including any planning, design, engineering, construction or associated costs or related expenses, and to meet this appropriation by authorizing the transfer of funds from unexpended proceeds of existing Town bonds authorized by a Town vote pursuant to Proposition 2 ½. A YES vote would mean that the transfer and reappropriation of the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the transfer for reappropriation of funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days.

Tax Impact: Because these funds are already held by the Town there will not be an incremental tax impact, but this is still an expenditure of Town resources and the tax impact if this were new borrowing for principal and interest payments would be $5 in the peak year for a homeowner with Hopkinton’s “average” house, which is valued at $681,100.

Question 3: 

Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to perform repair work on the Lake Maspenock Dam Area? Read more about the repair work on the Lake Maspenock Dam Area.

At the 2022 ATM, the Town voted to appropriate $400,000 for the payment of costs of the Lake Maspenock dam repair project, including any planning, design, engineering, construction or associated costs or related expenses, and to meet this appropriation by authorizing the transfer of funds from unexpended proceeds of existing Town bonds. A YES vote would mean that the transfer and reappropriation of the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the transfer and reappropriation of funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days.

Tax Impact: Because these funds are already held by the Town there will not be an incremental tax impact, but this is still an expenditure of Town resources and the tax impact if this were new borrowing for principal and interest payments would be $5 in the peak year for a homeowner with Hopkinton’s “average” house, which is valued at $681,100.

Question 4: 

Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to pay for the replacement of air handling units in the Middle School and High School buildings, including any planning, design, engineering, construction or associated costs or expenses related thereto? Read more about the Air Handling Units.

At the 2022 ATM, the Town voted to raise and appropriate $475,000 for the replacement of air handling units, including any planning, design, engineering, construction or associated costs or related expenses, and to meet that appropriation by authorizing the Town to borrow funds to cover that cost. This borrowing was made contingent upon the passage of a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 ½, authorizing a temporary increase in the Town’s tax levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this item. A YES vote would mean that the borrowing is approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the borrowing is disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days.

Tax Impact: The peak year tax impact for principal and interest payments on this proposed debt is just over $6 for a homeowner with Hopkinton’s “average” house, which is valued at $681,100.

Question 5: 

Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to pay the increased costs related to the Marathon School Addition project, approved by vote of the 2021 Annual Town Meeting, pursuant to Article 17 of said Town Meeting’s warrant, including any planning, design, engineering, construction or associated costs or expenses related thereto? Read more about the Marathon School Addition Cost Increase.

At the 2022 ATM, the Town voted to raise and appropriate $695,900 for the payment of increased costs related to the Marathon School Addition project, approved by vote of the 2021 ATM, including any planning, design, engineering, construction or associated costs or related expenses, and to meet this appropriation by transferring such amount from the unexpended proceeds of existing Town bonds. A YES vote would mean that the transfer and reappropriation of the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the transfer and reappropriation of the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days.

Tax Impact: Because these funds are already held by the Town there will not be an incremental tax impact, but this is still an expenditure of Town resources and the tax impact if this were new borrowing for principal and interest payments would be just under $7 for a homeowner with Hopkinton’s “average” house, which is valued at $681,100.

Question 6: 

Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to replace the Fruit Street Turf Field including any planning, design, engineering, construction or associated costs or expenses related thereto? Read more about the Turf Field Replacement.

At the 2022 ATM, the Town voted to appropriate a total of $1,671,543 for the purpose of replacing the Fruit Street Turf Field including any planning, design, engineering, construction or associated costs or related expenses. ATM voted to authorize the Town to borrow $1,271,543 towards the total cost. This borrowing was made contingent upon the passage of a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 ½, authorizing a temporary increase in the Town’s tax levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this item. A YES vote would mean that the borrowing is approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the borrowing is disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days.

Tax Impact: The peak year tax impact for principal and interest payments on this proposed debt is just over $25 for a homeowner with Hopkinton’s “average” house, which is valued at $681,100.