Skowhegan Board Again Denies Law Firm's TIF Grant Over 'Goal Posts' Fight
The board voted 3-2 against a $13,000 grant to fix a storm-damaged wall, and the firm's president called the decision unethical.
The Skowhegan select board on April 28 again rejected a downtown law firm's request for a $13,000 tax increment financing grant to repair a storm-damaged wall, the Maine Trust for Local News reported in a story carried by the Bangor Daily News.
The board voted 3-2, with Amber Lambke and Elijah Soll in favor. Board Chair Whitney Cunliffe and Vice Chair Kevin Nelson, joined by member Ethan Liberty, voted against it. Only three members were present in early April when the board first turned down the same request from the law firm Merrill, Hyde, Fortier & Youney at 95 Water St.
The town's Downtown TIF Advisory Committee had recommended approval, and Nelson acknowledged the request met the existing criteria. Opponents said the rules for spending TIF revenue should be revised first. Cunliffe cited rising property taxes and the town's overdue audits, proposed steering half of TIF revenue to general needs such as downtown infrastructure, public works and Coburn Park, and called for tighter terms on business grants.
John Youney, the firm's president, said the brick wall threatened the roof of neighboring Key Appliance and that insurance did not cover the damage. He called the decision unethical and said the board was changing the rules after his application was already filed. Soll also cautioned against “moving goal posts.”
Skowhegan's downtown TIF, created in 2006 and renewed in 2017, expires in 2036.
This story was first reported by Bangor Daily News.
