Dear Editor:

I am concerned about the TIF zone being proposed during the upcoming Boothbay Town Meeting vote. It feels unwise to set aside yet another section of town as a TIF zone. The proposed affordable housing development will significantly increase the value of that property, and thus the town’s income from future real estate taxes assessed on that property. By enveloping the area in a TIF zone agreement, the increased tax revenue generated will not come into the town’s general fund but will be restricted for use in the TIF zone. This means that the increased tax revenue will not be available to help pay for ambulance and fire, road maintenance and school budget funding among other regular town expenses. As a result, the funding burden for these ever increasing expenses falls on the Boothbay tax payers, living outside the TIF zone. I hope that there is another way to approach the creation of affordable housing other than the creation of a new TIF zone.

Cathy Sherrill

East Boothbay