📰BIDDEFORD | Tax Breaks, but for who? | MAYORAL DEBATE: TIFs & Credit Enhancement

Q: “The average voter thinks that credit enhancement agreements and TIFs are tax breaks for developers, but meanwhile property tax bills just came out and people have to swallow yet another very big increase.

Regarding tax breaks to developers that the council acted upon the last two years, how do you try to oppose or limit any of them now that Biddeford is moving in a different direction?”

A: “...if a developer wants to build a bowling alley, they should build it on their own dime.”

October 11, 2025, Yesterday evening a debate was held in the City of Biddeford between the 3 individuals running to serve as the City’s next Mayor. The debate took place at the Biddeford High School and was attended by members of the community, city staff, current and past city councilors, the Biddeford Chief of Police, and others.

The evening covered an array of topics and questions submitted both by the community as well as the panelists (Biddeford Gazette, Saco Bay News, and Portland Press Herald). The debate was moderated by Craig Pendleton, the former executive director of the Biddeford+Saco Chamber of Commerce+Industry.

Approximately 35 minutes into the event, Randy Seaver of the Biddeford Gazette, asked a community submitted question to the candidates pertaining to Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and Credit Enhancement Agreements.

Different then some of the other questions asked where the candidates were in full agreement with one another, this question provided viewers an opportunity to see some stark differences in viewpoints.

The first of the 3 mayoral candidates asked to respond was current Mayor Martin Grohman, followed by Ward 6 Councilor Norman Belanger, and lastly Ward 7 Council President Liam Lafountain.

Q: “The average voter thinks that credit enhancement agreements and TIFs are tax breaks for developers, but meanwhile property tax bills just came out and people have to swallow yet another very big increase.

Regarding tax breaks to developers that the council acted upon the last two years, how do you try to oppose or limit any of them now that Biddeford is moving in a different direction?”

-PLEASE WATCH THE FULL VIDEO TO HEAR EACH OF THE CANDIDATES FULL RESPONSE: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16oqKnN7QP/

With that being said, below are some of the statements made by the candidates while answering the question.

Martin Grohman stated, “Tax Increment Financing is a good opportunity for the city that we need to do more of… use credit enhancement very sparingly [and] very selectively, only when we need to boost back historic properties...”

Norman Belanger relayed that, “Credit enhancements have to have some real positive impact for the citizens and tax players… we need to be doing a much harder scrutiny of these dollar amounts going forward. You [developers] shouldn’t be profiting on City money.”

Lastly, Liam Lafountain expressed that, “...credit enhancements are tax breaks to big developers in the City of Biddeford… If a developer wants to build a bowling alley, they should build it on their own dime”

Again, different from some of the other questions asked when candidates found themselves in agreement with one another, this question provided viewers an opportunity to see some stark differences. Development has been a hot button topic in the City of Biddeford and will surely be a deciding factor in the way residents vote on November, 4, 2025.