Hooksett officials outline TIF-backed bond to fund river crossing, pump-station and force-main upgrades

At a meeting of the Hooksett Tax Increment Finance Commission, town officials described a proposed bond (Article 3) that would use tax-increment revenue from the TIF district to pay for a Merrimack River sewer crossing, an upgrade to the Martin's Ferry pump station and improvements to the force main.

Town Administrator Audrey Garend said the town has completed much of the infrastructure in the Exit 11 area and is seeking to use tax-increment revenue to move forward on the next phase. "The pump station's in. The sewer and water is put in that area," Garend said, and the bond would fund the river crossing, tie into the Martin's Ferry pump station and upgrade the force main.

The bond is presented as Article 3 on the warrant and — Garend said — would be sized to the increment available rather than by asking for additional general-property-tax revenue. "We're asking the voters to bond in concert with the amount of revenue that we have in the bank," she said. Garend also noted the TIF expansion on the east side of the river and recent increment from new and recently reassessed properties as reasons incremental revenue is now available.

Why it matters: The TIF-funded work is intended to bring sewer capacity to parts of Route 3A and the Exit 10/11 corridor, enabling commercial and industrial development officials and the commission say is necessary to capture incremental tax value from businesses already in or moving into the district.

Underwood Engineering assisted in planning the phased TIF work, Garend said. If approved by voters, the first phase described by staff would cover the river crossing, pump station upgrade and force-main work; extending sewer up to Route 3A would be a later phase and was not included in the $10 million referenced by staff for the first phase.

Commission members and staff discussed outreach to nearby large properties and retailers to encourage private connections. A commissioner suggested contacting Market Basket, Amazon/“App Pro” and Walmart to assess interest in tapping the new infrastructure; Garend and others said those conversations might be more productive once construction is visibly underway. "At least we could point at something and say, it's over on this side now," Garend said.

Town Engineer Bruce Thomas provided cost and phasing context for other transportation and sewer projects tied to the town's capital program. He said the Martin's Ferry Road project estimate rose from about $1.6 million to about $2.8 million because average unit prices used in estimates increased; he described the project as having the same scope but higher unit costs. Thomas said the Mountain's Ferry Road vote failed the budget committee but was placed on the warrant by the town council for voters to decide.

Garend and Thomas said the proposed TIF bond has the support of the town council and the budget committee in their deliberations and that the ballot article requires a three-fifths majority to pass. Garend said the town intends to issue a bond only up to the level supported by captured incremental revenue and that additional future increment from projects such as Old Dominion and Harley-Davidson would be on top of the current proposal.

Procedural business: At the start of the meeting commissioners nominated and voted to elect Mike Summers as chair and Dave Scarpetti as vice chair. The commission also approved the minutes of the June 3, 2024 meeting, with one abstention recorded. The meeting adjourned by voice vote.

What’s next: If the bond passes at ballot, staff said they will continue coordination with property owners and potential private partners to encourage connections and consider pursuing additional phases of sewer extension.