By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

If the first leg of Town Meeting was any indication, Hooksett voters are still undecided about a proposed $18 million partnership between the town and Nebraska-based outdoor sports retailer Cabela’s.

Proponents of the tax increment financing, or TIF, plan say the deal could bring lucrative commercial business to Hooksett, and help lower residential taxes. The plan also calls for $4.5 million to go directly toward improvements to the town’s infrastructure.

Yet several residents at the Saturday, April 1, deliberative session questioned whether Hooksett is ready for more rapid growth and suggested such large-scale developments could detrimental to the town’s sense of community.

If voters approve the $18 million tax increment financing, or TIF, plan next month, Cabela’s plans to to build a 130-square-foot retail center off Interstate 93’s Exit 11. With Cabela’s in place, more developments – including two hotels, several restaurants and gas stations – are expected to follow.

With TIF, tax revenue generated by the new developments would go toward paying off the 20-year bond, with any additional revenue returning to the town’s general fund.

Hooksett’s Exit 10 TIF district – approved by voters in 2001 with a $2.7 million price tag – now features several large retailers including Target and Home Depot, and has funneled more than $500,000 into the town coffers in each of the last two years.

In a recent letter to the town council, Cabela’s representatives said they plan to purchase the $18 million bond, and be responsible for it until it is fully paid.

“The Hooksett Town Council occasionally has a real opportunity to make a difference on how taxes are raised in this town,” Town Council Chairman Michael DiBitetto told voters gathered at Cawley Middle School. “(The TIF plan) will be done without one penny of your tax money.”

DiBitetto said if taxpayers were to bear the brunt of the proposed town infrastructure improvements like upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant, the Lilac Bridge and the water precinct – all of which he deemed crucial regardless of the proposed commercial developments – the result would be 40 to 56 cent spike in the tax rate, depending on the life of the bond.

Cabela’s representative Darren Robinson said the company won’t move forward with plans to build in Hooksett unless voters approve the TIF plan.

“Without a TIF, this project does not make it to our board for approval,” said Robinson.

Cabela’s has 14 retail locations around the country, and company spokesmen have touted the developments – which feature museums with local or regional themes – as regional tourist destinations.

Hooksett resident and State Rep. David Hess said days before Hooksett’s deliberative session he met with Gov. John Lynch, Senate President Ted Gatsas and representatives from the state Department of Transportation for about an hour and a half.

“There is clearly a stated desire that the state be involved in this project,” said Hess, who was involved in enacting the state’s TIF legislation.

Others voiced support for the TIF plan, arguing that it would be a much-needed boon to the local economy, especially as more than 1,000 new residences are expected to be built in the near future.

“We’ve had opportunities to invest in our community before and we’ve blown it,” said resident Steve Korzynowski. “This is an opportunity that should not be missed.”

Despite assurances from the council that the TIF project wouldn’t exceed the $18 million mark, some residents asked if the proposed development would head the town down a slippery slope.

“I don’t know how we can absorb it,” said resident Peter Farwell. “We’ve got too many other secondary improvements we have to do.”

Others questioned the effects such a large-scale development plan would have on residential quality of life.

“The morale in this town over the last five years has substantially decreased,” said resident Jean Clement, citing recent drops in attendance at Hooksett Old Home Day. “People are angry.”

The rest of Hooksett’s voters will determine the fate of the project on election day, May 9. Voting will take place between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. at Cawley School.