DIXFIELD — Selectmen decided Monday night to hold a presentation on tax increment financing next month in regards to a proposed 20-turbine wind farm along Colonel Holman ridge.

Mathew Eddy, executive
director of the Augusta firm of Eaton Peabody Consulting Group, will address residents at 6
p.m. Feb. 22 at the community room of Dirigo High School. The board hired the firm this month to help it decide whether it would be to the town’s advantage to enter into a TIF
agreement with Patriot Renewables LLC of Massachusetts.

The firm has agreed to pay up to $10,000 for the town to hire a consultant.

The public presentation will be a general introduction to such
things as tax shifts involved in a TIF agreement. Town Manager Eugene
Skibitsky said the town has some unique characteristics that will be
addressed by a specific TIF, if the town eventually agrees to grant
one.

Before the presentation, selectmen will meet in the town office at 5 p.m. to conduct municipal business.   

Selectmen are preparing for a wind energy informational forum Feb. 4 at the high school. It is sponsored by four economic or community development organizations from Rumford, Paris and Farmington.

Skibitsky reported Monday night that a meeting last week with town department heads resulted in $77,000 in budget cuts being identified through June 30. The town expects to lose about $79,000 in state revenue sharing by then.

  The current municipal budget is $1.9 million and the tax rate is $16.25 per $1,000 valuation.

Skibitsky will present an overview of the proposed 2010-2011 budget March 22, then each town department will make presentations to the board in late March and April.

The annual town meeting was tentatively set for May 27.

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