Boscawen approves five-year PILOT with Avaloch Farm Music Institute starting at $8,000

The Boscawen Select Board voted Aug. 3 to move forward with a voluntary five-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with Avaloch Farm Music Institute (AFMI) beginning at $8,000 in 2026 and increasing 3% each year.

Board members, town staff and AFMI representatives spent the work session ironing out differences between versions of the draft agreement, including an incorrect statutory reference in the town’s draft, how parcels were described, and the term of the agreement. Loren Martin of Avitar Associates told the board that voluntary PILOT payments are typically retained by the town and do not affect the school tax-rate calculation. AFMI representatives emphasized the organization’s community contributions; Ashley Bathgate said “it’s important to remember that AFMI provides a lot of in-kind benefits to the community and those benefits are increasing.” Dr. Alfred Tauber described the group's earlier approach to town payments, saying they had previously “volunteered to give an $8,000 donation.”

Under the terms discussed and approved in principle, the agreed schedule is: 2026 — $8,000; Year Two — $8,240; Year Three — $8,487; Year Four — $8,742; Year Five — $9,004, with the term set at five years. The board and AFMI also agreed on edits to the draft: require associated tax filings for review, require filings be submitted by certified mail with signature confirmation, remove a duplicated section, make the agreement non-transferrable (so a new owner would need to seek a PILOT), and process a 2026 abatement for any amounts in excess of the $8,000 first-issue tax warrant; the property would be entered as EXEMPT PILOT for 2027.

Selectwoman Lorrie Carey asked that the board document, in writing, the methodology used to settle on the figure and requested review by legal counsel before final execution. Chairman Matt Burdick moved to proceed with the agreed terms; Selectman Joshua Crawford seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The board directed staff to incorporate the agreed edits and return a final draft for legal review and signature.