Bellingham Board Moves to Explore DIF District to Fund $5.8 Million Road Shortfall

BELLINGHAM -- May 18, 2026, Bellingham Selectboard backs exploration of a Development Improvement Financing district to close a $5.8 million gap on the Hartford Avenue Traffic Improvement Project. Town Administrator Joe Layden told the board Monday that contractor bids came in at just under $10 million against roughly $5.5 million in secured grants from MassWorks, MassDOT, and an Economic Development Grant, plus a $2.66 million WS Development contribution contingent on full funding being in place. The DIF mechanism, authorized under Massachusetts General Law and requiring town meeting approval, would capture incremental property tax growth from new development within a designated district to service infrastructure debt without raising the tax rate or imposing a special assessment. Layden cited the town of Easton's 2019 approval of a similar $34 million Four Corners program as a working model. The board's bid window closes June 22, 2026. In other action, the board unanimously approved a common victualler license for Paris Baguette at 253 Hartford Ave., opening late June with 40 to 50 projected jobs, and voted to enter executive session to review nine sets of minutes dating to June 2025.