Windham approves TIF-backed North Windham sewer, DOT match and bonds for ambulance, truck

Windham voters on June 13 approved a set of measures that together finance sewer expansion and local infrastructure in North Windham, plus equipment bonds for emergency and public works fleets.

The meeting approved Article 4 to use TIF (tax increment financing) revenues to offset operations for South and North Windham sewer funds and later passed Article 22 to authorize council appropriation of TIF funds under the warrant language. Manager Bob Burns explained that the town's North Windham Treatment Plant will be operational immediately after July 4, and the town will begin connecting adjacent businesses to the collection system.

To ensure available cash for immediate connection costs, voters approved Article 23 to appropriate up to $2,000,000 from the town's unassigned fund balance as a bridge loan to be repaid with TIF revenue over multiple years. Burns described the bridge loan as a safety net to avoid a shortfall while TIF receipts ramp up from new connections.

The meeting also approved Article 24 to authorize up to $3,125,000 in general-obligation bonds or notes as the town's matching portion for the MDOT-backed "North Windham Moves" project, which Burns described as a $31.25 million federal grant effort to add connector roads, sidewalks, multi-use paths and adaptive traffic-signal technology. Burns said the state has scheduled a public meeting on that project in August and that the town's proposed borrowing is well within the municipality's debt capacity.

Separately, voters passed Article 25 to authorize bonds for a new ambulance and related equipment. Fire Chief Libby said the department needs to add a fourth ambulance to maintain rotation and service levels; he noted a steep rise in vehicle pricing: "the last time we purchased a new ambulance was in 2022 ... we paid $185,000 for the exact same vehicle that is now coming in at 465," Chief Libby said, explaining the rationale for bonding rather than paying outright.

Article 26 authorized bonds up to $315,000 to replace a Public Works dump truck that helps maintain 177 single-lane miles (about 383 lane miles total when all travel lanes are counted); Public Works staff explained heavy seasonal use and salt-related wear. Article 27 authorized up to $2,200,000 in bonds to construct a sewer connection to serve the RSU 14 campus (schools) and certain municipal buildings; Burns said bonding the school sewer connection preserves TIF reserves rather than drawing them down immediately.

All measures in this package passed by voice vote following manager presentations and resident questions about repayment, reserve levels and timing.