$5M fire station borrowing plan on hold.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Christine Miller

GRAFTON - The Board of Selectmen delayed action on bonding the $5 million loan for the new fire station this week, pending more information on the town's debt and bond rating.

Treasurer/Collector Karen L. Gauthier updated the board on the bonding issue Tuesday. She said Grafton's current debt will be paid by 2014. However, the town also needs to consider future projects that might be added to the debt.

The selectmen must decide whether taxpayers will pay more per year over a shorter term of borrowing or less over a longer term, according to Town Manager Natalie T. Lashmit. In the past, Grafton has been successful with five- and 10-year bond issues because of new growth revenue. However, the growth pattern has slowed substantially this year, she said.

Ms. Lashmit said in an interview yesterday that the impact on Grafton's tax rate would be a high of 30 cents per $1,000 valuation to a low of 22 cents on a 20-year bond and a high of 23 cents and a low of 14 cents on a 15-year bond. The highest payment is in the first...