China selectmen focus on revised TIF program

by Mary Grow

A short June 22 China selectmen’s meeting focused on on-going town programs.

The item discussed longest was the revised TIF (Tax Increment Financing) program prepared by the TIF Committee and retiring Town Manager Dennis Heath.

Heath said he, TIF Committee Chairman Frank Soares and representatives of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, which oversees the statewide program, discussed updating China’s document at a recent meeting.

A TIF program lets a municipality direct part of its property tax income to specified economic development programs. China uses the tax paid by Central Maine Power Company on its north-south transmission line through town and its South China substation.

In addition to rearranging fund allocations, the revised plan proposes two new categories:

• Water quality work will allow TIF funds to support work by the China Lake Association, the China Region Lakes Alliance and the Alewife Restoration Initiative (even though the last-named works outside town boundaries, providing alewife migration passage on Outlet Stream in Vassalboro).
• Broadband and internet access, recently added by the state as an economic development component, will assist with expansion of broadband service.

Heath said the revised plan will be presented at a public hearing, to be scheduled soon, before selectmen vote on accepting it. The next TIF Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening, July 7.

In other business June 22, selectmen approved forwarding China’s revised comprehensive plan to state officials for review, as requested by planning board members at their June 9 meeting (see The Town Line, June 18). The planning board hopes to be able to submit the updated plan to voters on Nov. 3.

Selectmen approved adding two Regional School Unit (RSU) #18 questions to the July 14 list of ballots. One is a referendum on the RSU’s Revolving Renovation Fund Program, the other the annual referendum on the RSU budget approved at an open meeting June 17.

Heath announced that Ronald Marois, a former employee in China’s public works department, is returning to become head of the transfer station staff, effective July 1. He succeeds Tim Grotton, who will continue to work a shorter schedule.

China selectmen have scheduled a special meeting for 6 p.m. – half an hour earlier than usual – Monday, June 29, primarily for a final payment of bills as the fiscal year ends. Their next regular meeting will be Monday, July 6.

Town office to be closed June 30

On Tuesday, June 30, the China town office will be closed so staff can finish end-of-fiscal-year work. The second and final public hearing on the July 14 town meeting warrant is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 30 in the town office; it will also be available via Zoom and live-streamed.

The town office will be closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, for the Independence Day holiday.