Dear Editor:

I wanted to explain my thought process on the TIF and the bond question facing Boothbay voters November 5, and why I support both questions.

First, we approached the Country Club about the changes they were doing. We, not the Country Club, came up with the idea of a TIF. It allows the town to keep county assessment (taxes) down while keeping our school subsidy from the state.

The TIF proposal has wording allowing many things to be paid for by the TIF monies; including water/sewer within the district, economic director, etc. But before any money is spent, plans must be approved by you, the taxpayer, by a town meeting vote. There are no plans for water/sewer, there are no plans to hire an economic developer.

Regarding the proposed bond question, if this seems “rushed” to some people, then I have to agree, but for a good reason. The state has a transportation bond question on the ballot the same day you vote on the local issues. We would target state matching funds to match our bond to do any improvements. Without matching funds there is no money from the state. 

The “concept plan” is by no means the final project. There are many things in that plan that I personally don’t like. We needed something to show voters so we used the Route 27 Corridor study from 2002 and 2012 done by the state of Maine. If the bond is approved, we would put together a local committee to come up with an improvement plan that is acceptable and doesn’t take away the character of our town. We (the residents of Boothbay) will be in the driver’s seat of any proposed changes.

I love my hometown and would not do anything to harm it. There are not many jobs to keep people here. This is not the magic bullet to save everything, but it gives us a tool to help lure new business to the area. Will it work? I don’t know, but it will cost the town nothing to try it.

I hope you join me in voting yes on questions 2 and 3.

Steve Lewis
Boothbay Selectman