On Feb. 5, I traveled to Concord to testify on House Bill 540 before the Municipal and County committee. I testified in opposition to this bill. I do support the redevelopment of the Balsams. Under the current financial proposal, however, I cannot support the request to involve the county as the issuer and administrator of a $28 million debt. Under the proposal, this $28 million would be turned over to the private, for-profit Balsams developers. The taxes the county would normally collect from the new Balsams construction would not come to the county to pay for county services. Instead, all the new taxes would be redirected to pay off this part of the Balsams financing.

The main obligation as county commissioners is to oversee the two nursing homes, the house of corrections, the sheriff' s department, the probate court and the register of deeds.

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