LIVERMORE FALLS — Selected discussed the use of stickers for motor vehicles of residents who use the transfer station to November 21 meeting. The subject was discussed over a year ago but nothing came of it.
Public Works Department Supervisor Bill Nichols estimated it could save the city $2,000 to $2,500 a year by preventing nonresidents from using the station.
“They sneak in Saturday,” he said, which is the busiest day for attendants. Nichols said he already checked the cost of the stickers and it was $300 for a year. About 50% of residents do not go to the transfer station. They hire private carriers.
The discussion ranged from different colored stickers for each year to stickers corresponding to vehicle registrations. Council voted for City Manager Carrie Castonguay to develop a plan.
Separately, Chairman Jim Long said tax increment financing funds cannot be used to repair tennis or basketball courts. The board had voted to use some of the money to redo the courts in 2022. The project was never carried out.
There are only certain items that TIF money can be used for, Long said. The board wanted to have one tennis court and turn the second into pickleball courts.
The board also thought in 2022 it had $180,000 to work with, but it turned out it was only $122,000, he said. The money had been used for another project, Long said.
Tax increment financing funds can only be used for economic development in certain categories. The money could be used to include a business park, sewer service upgrades based on commercial users, public transportation, trail signage, American with Disabilities Act requirements, professional skills and more.
Long asked the board to think about what they wanted to do with the funds.
In 2014, voters approved the TIF district which includes downtown, the Otis Falls Mill property in Livermore Falls, property along Park Street and property on Diamond Road near the biomass plant.
The TIF was expected to allow the city to house 90 percent of the new value of the $14 million Central Maine Power upgrade and capture approximately $8.59 million in new taxes over 30 years. It was then expected to be worth an additional $2 million over the life of the TIF, according to a consultant hired by the city to work with city officials to develop the deal.
The remaining 10% of the value is estimated to generate a total of $954,720 in new revenue with a net amount of $374,558 going to the general fund. The figures were based on what was known at the time and the current tax rate of $20.80 per $1,000 of property value.
The TIF would give the board flexibility to capture less than 90% of the value, but no more once the deal is accepted. Selectmen should elect to fund the TIF each year to receive the benefits.
In other business, selectmen decided not to accept the donation of the Heritage Tennis Club’s private courts on Heritage Lane. Gary Knight, who had been involved with the courts during its construction, had contacted the city to see if they would be interested in taking over the courts.
The consensus of the board was that the city had tennis courts that needed repair and at this time they did not need more courts to maintain.
The tax bill for the property is about $850 a year, Long said. Regional School Unit 73 refused to take over the courts, he said.
Furthermore, elected officials asked Castonguay to do a cost analysis of the summer recreation program. Livermore Falls typically contributes $12,000 a year and handles administrative work. Jay pays $1,300 for Jay’s children to participate, and each child or family must pay a registration fee.
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