JAY — The Jay Select Board plans to hold a separate workshop on Walden Renewables’ proposed solar development as board members seek more information about potential tax revenue, a possible tax increment financing agreement and questions raised during earlier public hearings.

The workshop is expected to include a general overview of tax increment financing, discussion of Walden Renewables’ proposal and the potential impact on local taxes.

Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere told the board Sept. 28 that discussions about a tax increment financing, or TIF, agreement would typically involve the town assessor, town attorney, Walden and members of the Select Board before a proposal would return to the full board for consideration.

“Ultimately, any TIF is approved by the residents,” LaFreniere said. “It has to go to a vote anyways.”

Board members debated whether those discussions should take place before voters decide the future of the project or afterward. Some questioned whether the town should devote time to developing a financial arrangement before knowing whether residents support the project, while others said voters should have more information about potential revenue before casting ballots.

LaFreniere said Walden has discussed using a structure modeled on a TIF in Sanford. Under her understanding of that arrangement, a TIF district would capture the project’s added taxable value so it would not count against the municipality in calculations involving state revenue sharing and school funding, while payments from the developer would provide revenue to the town.

“I don’t even want to say this because I don’t know enough to make sure that this is correct,” LaFreniere said before explaining her understanding of the Sanford arrangement.

Questions at the meeting included whether payments would be based on the project’s proposed generating capacity or its actual annual production, along with the eventual number of solar panels, acreage involved, buffer zones and screening.

“And that’s part of those discussions,” LaFreniere said. “These are important questions.”

In a follow-up email Wednesday, LaFreniere said she expects the workshop to cover TIFs more broadly as well as the Walden proposal.

“I believe the workshop will be a complete overview of TIFs in general as well as the Walden proposal,” she said.

The board ultimately favored a separate workshop rather than adding the discussion to a regular Select Board meeting. It was noted that a dedicated workshop would be more beneficial to the public.

No date has been set. LaFreniere said Walden is coordinating possible dates with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and an attorney.

Separately, Walden Renewables will hold a public informational meeting from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at LaFleurs Restaurant, 224 Main St. The meeting is intended for residents who want information about the proposed solar project directly from the developer.

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