Dear Editor:

In deciding how to vote on the proposed TIF district (Article 2) and the Bond authorization question (Article 3) on the November 5 ballot, I go through the following process:

1. Mr. Coulombe owns the Boothbay Harbor Golf Course, and will invest in it regardless of whether Articles 2 and 3 are approved, to the tune of $21 million. He gets no tax break either way.

2. If the voters do not approve the TIF, then, while our tax revenues will go up from the development, our state reimbursement will go down, and our county assessment will increase, resulting in roughly $800,000 in a combination of reimbursement losses and increased county taxes. Based on these two premises, I think the TIF is a good thing and support a yes on Article 2.

3. The proposed bond authorization is to issue the bonds and is not an actual bond. Voting for this makes sense for two reasons: first, tax revenues (or, failing the taxes, private revenues from Mr. Coulombe) will be funneled to pay off 100 percent of the bond (if money is actually borrowed). At the same time, a committee of citizens would be then empowered to develop a plan for improving our roads and other infrastructure.

4. None of the infrastructure improvements have been decided. One thing appears certain: Mr. Coulombe will attempt to build an entrance to the golf course off of Route 27 opposite Chapel Street, just to the north of Bet's, whether we go ahead with the bond or not. Route 27 is a state highway, and if we do not initiate our own planning process, the planning will be done by the state DOT. Based on these ideas, I support the authorization of the bond, and the planning process, a yes on Article 3.

5. I am opposed to any change in the sign ordinance, so will be voting no on Article 4.

6. I support Article 5, since it will allow the Planning Board to approve boatbuilding in the general residential area, with controls to protect abutters and the neighborhood.

I am opposed to a rotary, and I am opposed to taking any of the Common. I believe that the planning committee and Town Meeting can ensure that our community's wishes in these areas are met.

Bruce MacDonald
Boothbay