Kids Count Child Care TIF District

At a glance

• What: A 30-year tax increment financing district on one parcel on North Belfast Avenue for a new child care center, with a ten-year credit enhancement agreement.
• Where it stands: Council approved 7 to 0 on July 16, 2026 after a public hearing with no opposition.
• Next: Maine Department of Economic and Community Development must approve the district; the City Manager then signs the credit enhancement agreement.

Project

PMB Properties, LLC and Kids Count Child Care, LLC, owned by Pauline Chase, propose an 8,024 square foot center licensed for 120 children (about $2,277,625 in private investment) on Tax Map 6, Lot 66, 5.26 acres east of 2256 North Belfast Avenue. Pauline Chase said she owns two other Augusta centers, grew up in Augusta, has worked in child care here since 2006, and hopes to expand to 180 children. The original design was 180 children; the cost of a traffic study brought it down to 120.

Terms (from Keith Luke, Economic Development Director)

• Parcel assessed at $40,000 now, projected at $730,000 when complete, producing about $10,500 a year in new tax.
• Credit enhancement agreement for 10 of the 30 years: the developer receives 50 percent of the captured value, about $5,244 a year or $52,440 total. From year 11 the city keeps 100 percent, roughly $210,000 over the remaining 20 years, used for economic development programs.
• Expansion during the ten years would fall under the same plan. A 30-year district was chosen because the state funding formulas, education aid, revenue sharing and county taxes would otherwise redirect about two thirds of each new tax dollar away from the city.
• The TIF Committee voted unanimously to recommend approval.

Public hearing and vote

Hearing opened 7:03 p.m. and closed 7:08 p.m.; nobody spoke in opposition or neutral. Order 26-101 moved by Councilor Lind, seconded by Councilor Gary-Allen, passed 7 to 0 (Councilor Judkins absent). Councilor Lind called it the most meaningful TIF he had voted on because of the direct effect on working families. Councilor Sienkiewicz praised staff creativity and said it lets the business expand as originally intended.

Sources

• City Council business meeting minutes, July 16, 2026: https://www.augustamaine.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_07162026-96

Log

2026-07-16 - City Council

Public hearing, then approved 7 to 0.