China TIF committee approves 11 of 13 applications

by Mary Grow

China Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee members reviewed all 13 applications on their March 26 agenda. They fully approved 11.

Committee members had no objections to the other two proposals, but they could not fit one into TIF criteria, and reduced the other due to competing needs.

The rejected application was from the China Village Volunteer Fire Department. Chief Joel Nelson asked for $7,500 to replace five SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) bottles.

TIF Committee members commended the firefighters, but could not match the request with state and town TIF criteria, which focus on promoting economic development. Nelson argued in his application that having a fire department equipped to protect businesses, homes and infrastructure encourages development.

Nelson continues to seek other sources of funds. Grant applications have not yet been successful, he wrote.

TIF Committee Chairman Brent Chesley combined consideration of requests from the Four Seasons Club ($50,000 for trails); the Thurston Park Committee ($37,000, partly for trails, partly to improve parking and the park entrance road for better access to trails); and the Community Forest group ($4,093 for trail signs). All get grants from the same TIF account.

The Four Seasons Club’s $50,000 is a recurring request that committee members approved without discussion.

Elaine Philbrook explained the request for signs for trails in the Community Forest, east of China Primary School. “We’re trying to make it so when people go into the forest, they can come out of the forest,” she said.

Committee members agreed that was good idea and unanimously approved the money.

They discussed with Thurston Park Committee Chairman Jeanette Smith how much of the requested money would go specifically for trails. Smith did not have an estimated cost for this year’s planned work, because the trails are not yet accessible for inspection.

After balancing approved expenditures with funds available, committee members allocated $26,307 from TIF for Thurston Park.

Other approved expenditures for the 2025-26 fiscal year are:

— For the planned China Community Garden on Lakeview Drive south of the town office complex, sponsored by the China for a Lifetime Committee, $3,414.
— For the China Broadband Committee, $10,000, plus carry-forward from prior appropriations. TIF Committee member Jamie Pitney, who also serves on the Broadband Committee, abstained on the vote.
— For the China Lake Association, $50,000.
— For The Town Line newspaper, $3,000.
— For the Four Seasons Club for fireworks during the annual China Ice Days celebration, $6,000.
— For the Town of China to hire a summer intern again, $15,000, with Lucas Adams, Karen Morin and Pitney in favor and Chesley voting against the appropriation, because, he said he doubted the intern’s value. This summer, he told Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood, he will try to spend some time observing the intern.
— For the Town of China for the annual Community Days celebration, $15,000. Hapgood said as fireworks get more expensive, she and China Recreation Committee members are considering replacing them with other, ongoing programs, like musical events or food trucks.
— For the Town of China for Kennebec Valley Council of Governments annual dues, $3,504. Pitney asked if the town still uses KVCOG services; Hapgood replied town officials find educational events and bulk purchasing useful.
— For the Town of China for Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce annual dues, $490.

TIF Committee recommendations go to the select board, which approves annual expenditures from the fund. TIF money comes from the taxes Central Maine Power Company pays on its transmission line through China and its South China substation.

Committee members decided their work is done for now and did not schedule another meeting.