The second question on the referendum ballot will ask residents whether they support the Water and Sewer Commission borrowing $6.2 million from the state for three infrastructure projects. The commission would pay back the loan via user fees, not taxes. The loan would come from the state Department of Public Health’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Commission member William Hester told the selectmen early this month that the three projects have already been approved by the state public health department for low-interest financing and partial funding. Stratford said the commission is eligible for a 25-year loan at an annual interest rate of 2%. It is also possible the commission would only have to pay back half, or $3.1 million, of that loan. A component of the state fund includes forgiveness clauses of 25% and 50%.
https://www.rep-am.com/local/localnews/2021/04/26/three-projects-totaling-6-2m-added-to-winsteds-referendum/