Bedford council approves five-year PILOT agreement with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic

The Bedford Town Council approved a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic for the property at 58 Hawthorne Drive (Lot 24-1-4), and authorized the town manager to sign the agreement. Town Manager Rick Sawyer said the town recognizes Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic as a nonprofit corporation under RSA 72:23:5 and that the clinic agreed to pay the town an amount representing 50% of the total tax rate. "The town does recognize Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic as a nonprofit corporation pursuant to RSA 72 23 5," Sawyer said, adding that both sides’ attorneys have approved the agreement and that it conforms with a prior settlement. Sawyer told the council the initial term is five years with a five-year extension. "This is — it has, I believe it's for the initial is for 5 years with a 5 year extension," he said. The council approved a motion to accept the agreement and authorize the town manager to execute it. The council voted in favor; the transcript records "Aye. Aye." in response to the roll call for approval. Why it matters: the PILOT will provide the town with revenue it would not otherwise collect from tax-exempt property and is described by Sawyer as an enhancement above another existing PILOT in town. What’s next: The town will execute the agreement and receive payments under the schedule negotiated with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic.