Rockport voters will soon decide on a $52 million bond for our sewer system, and it's crucial that our decisions are based on accurate and comprehensive information. Unfortunately, the information provided by the Select Board through the Rockport Resource and other channels has proven to be both inaccurate and incomplete, raising serious concerns.

In a letter published in the Rockport Resource, the Select Board stated that only sewer users would be financially responsible for the bond. This statement is inaccurate. In reality, anyone connected to the sewer system or within its potential expansion area will have to pay the debt service. For example, should the system expand along Route 90 to Route 17, homes and businesses along this route would be obligated to pay the debt service, even if they do not connect to the sewer.

Additionally, Rockport residents will bear a portion of the costs, as public facilities like the library, schools, fire and police stations, opera house, and town office are connected to the sewer system and funded through the town budget, which all taxpayers support.

Furthermore, the Select Board plans to use Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to partially fund the project. TIF is a financial mechanism that allocates future increases in property tax revenue—resulting from increases in property values due to the project—to finance development costs. Including over $6 million in TIF funds in the proposed wastewater funding package demonstrates that there are taxpayer dollars at stake, not solely those of sewer users and that the town expects property taxes will increase.

Additionally, the Select Board stated in their letter that sewer users will pay less if we approve the bond and move forward with building our own system. However, at the May 28 Q&A session held by the town at the Opera House, Rockport resident Scott Gazelle highlighted errors in the financial model used for these projections. Gazelle also suggested that the assumptions made in the model were unrealistic and that by applying more realistic assumptions, the model predicts that an average sewer user will pay $5,520 more with a new facility and Route 90 extension compared to continuing to collaborate with Camden.

The town acknowledged some data entry errors in the model during this discussion. It is concerning that we are asked to vote on the largest bond to date based on a model that produces contradictory financial outcomes and is further complicated by acknowledged errors.

It must also be acknowledged that many voters have already cast absentee ballots based on the information they were presented, information that is inaccurate and potentially flawed.

As Rockport residents, we deserve a transparent process and reliable and accurate information on which to base our decisions. Ensuring the integrity of this process is crucial not just for the current bond but for maintaining trust in how our community handles future large-scale projects.

Kate Lee lives in Rockport