Prepaid: Financing Phase 1 of Mashpee’s Clean Water Plan *UPDATED*

May 3 2021 Town Meeting / May 8 2021 Town Election Ballot Question
Mashpee Clean Water Plan

Prepaid: Financing Phase 1 of Mashpee’s Clean Water Plan

A yes vote on the Town’s treatment plant and sewers at the May 3 town meeting (Article 6) and May 8 election

(Question 1) = $0 additional property taxes

Nothing is free but steps taken by the voters over the past two years allow the Town to pay for Phase 1 of its Clean Water Plan with existing and previously authorized revenue, resulting in no additional taxes. To achieve this Town Meeting must also pass Article 8, which establishes a bylaw that qualifies the project for a zero interest loan from the state. While a debt exclusion (Question 1) is required to protect the Town’s high credit rating and financial stability, property tax bills will not increase if these measures are approved, nor can the debt exclusion be used for any other purpose.

The first chart shows how existing revenue more than offsets the annual debt service of $156 from the current phase for a property with an assessed value of $498,000, the town’s average. The second chart shows the offsets cumulatively for the total cost of this phase of the project:

pie chart 1pie chart 2

There will be future phases to fully implement the Clean Water Plan, but each phase will require voter approval and will proceed in steps as this phase has, allowing voters to see the cost as it evolves before deciding to proceed. Additional revenue from the existing sources cited here will be available to pay for some or all of the future phases of the plan.

There is a non-property tax cost for property owners who have to connect to the collection system, which will be discussed in a separate informational sheet.

email:  mashpeewaters@gmail.com

●    More on the Town’s Clean Water Plan: mashpeewaters.com

●    Special and Annual Town Meeting 7 p.m. May 3, 2021 at Mashpee Middle-High School

Town Meeting Warrant link: https://www.mashpeema.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3426/f/news/may_3_2021_tow...

●    Annual Town Election 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. May 8, 2021 at Quashnet School

Town Election Warrant link: https://www.mashpeema.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3426/f/news/mashpee_electi...