Amendment to TIF program ready for China voters

by Mary Grow

After a couple hours’ discussion with town assessor William Van Tuinen on Feb. 16 and another hour debating among themselves on Feb. 20, China selectmen have an amendment to the town’s TIF (Tax Increment Finance) program ready for voters at the March 25 town meeting.

The original document, “Central Maine Power/China Lake Tax Increment Financing District and Development Program,” was approved at the March 2015 town meeting. It established a TIF District that includes the new Central Maine Power Company (CMP) power line as the revenue source and areas at both ends of China Lake’s east basin and around the town office as potential development areas.

Taxes from the power line go into a separate Development Program Fund. The money can be used to fund economic development projects, as defined in the TIF document, in the development areas. The 2015 TIF was for 20 years.

The proposed amendment makes three changes. It extends the TIF to 30 years, ending at the end of fiscal year 2044. It adds the new CMP substation off Route 3 as a source of income. And it expands the priority development areas by adding the old Pine Tree Zones and two properties voters approved buying in November 2016, the subdivision on Lakeview Drive opposite the former Candlewood Camps and a lot adjoining the town office lot.

The amendment appears as Art. 5 in a 56-article town meeting warrant that includes the 2017-18 municipal budget and numerous ordinance amendments. Voters will act on the items at the town business meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday, March 25, at China Middle School.

At the Feb. 20 meeting, selectmen also talked briefly about a town vote on recreational marijuana. An attempt to have a moratorium on retail marijuana businesses in town failed when not enough voters came to a January special town meeting to make a quorum.

Selectmen are divided over whether additional local action is needed. Joann Austin saw new business opportunities if the town were to allow marijuana establishments; Jeffrey LaVerdiere retorted that big out-of-state business would dominate and profits would leave town.

In any case, Board Chairman Neil Farrington said, there is no need for immediate action. The issue might be raised again before the June 2016 ballot is prepared.

The next regular China selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, March 6.