Presenter Peter Kearney: PILOT deals shifted tax burden to Hague, committee estimates $1M left on the table

Peter Kearney presented the SAC’s financial analysis, focusing on how PILOT (payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes) agreements and host‑site payments negotiated for solar farms and a proposed power cable affect Hague residents’ school tax bills. He said the committee identified about $150 million of local energy investments and a separate transmission cable project, and argued the school board’s decisions on PILOTs had the effect of removing a material portion of taxable value from the apportionment calculation.

Kearney said many of the recent PILOTs reduced taxable obligations dramatically — he cited figures of 70–90% reductions for solar projects and a 75% reduction for the cable — and estimated “something on the order of $1,000,000 dollars a year for the first year” was left off the negotiating table. He also said the board had voted unanimously on the PILOT approvals and later held a special meeting that excluded public analysis and input before changing the apportionment practice.

The presenter urged the town and residents to press for three remedies: (1) reverse the policy that excludes new energy projects from the apportionment calculation, (2) secure a Hague seat at future PILOT negotiations, and (3) use multiyear assessment averaging to reduce one‑year tax shocks. Note: the presenter was introduced as "Peter Carney" by another speaker (SEG 620) but self‑identified during his remarks as "Peter Kearney" (SEG 636); the article follows the speaker’s self‑identification.