ALLENSTOWN – Sewer commissioners are trying to spread the word about a $15 million bond proposal to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant that services both Pembroke and Allenstown.

The $15 million question will be on Allenstown’s Town Meeting ballot in March, though Pembroke would be responsible for 52 percent of the costs, according to an “intermunicipal” wastewater services agreement signed by sewer commissioners in the neighboring towns last November.

The Allenstown Sewer Commission is hosting informational sessions every Monday leading up to the March 13 vote. Meetings will be at 7 p.m. at the St. John the Baptist Parish Center on Allenstown’s School Street.

Allenstown sewer officials have said much of the renovation costs – which would be covered by a 30-year bond – for the project could be offset by combinations of grant money. All the town’s taxpayers, not just sewer ratepayers, would be responsible for repaying the bond, according to the wording of the warrant article.

“We feel the project is beneficial for the entire community,” sewer commission Chairman James Rodger said. “It’s just like the school system is beneficial to the entire community, even though not everyone sends kids to school.”

Rodger said there are about 1,400 total units currently hooked up to the wastewater treatment plant. There are about 1,900 taxpayers in town, including owners of apartment complexes, said Rodger.

Because the wastewater plant reached capacity, the state Department of Environmental Services issued a moratorium on new sewer hookups in 2005. The moratorium has dissuaded new commercial and industrial businesses – and the tax revenue that would follow – from moving to town, said Rodger.

Rodger said he hoped and expected the end cost of the project to taxpayers in Allenstown and Pembroke would be about $3.5 million per town. The sewer commission has charted three scenarios for repaying the bond.

With no grant money, the commission estimates the tax impact for Allenstown property owners to be $1.67 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. With 20 percent matching grants, the commission estimates that impact will dip to $1.34. With 50 percent covered by grants, the commission estimates an impact of 84 cents.

With those estimates, and with no grant money, the owner of a $200,000 Allenstown home would pay an additional $334 in property taxes annually. With a 20 percent match, that homeowner would pay an additional $268 per year. With 50 percent matching grants, that annual impact would drop to $168.

Selectmen decided not to have a recommendation on the $15 million question on this year’s ballot, said the board’s chairman, Sandy McKenney.

“We wanted it to go straight to the people,” she said. McKenney said such a hefty cost alone may sway Allenstown residents who already struggle paying taxes.

“It’s a lot of money,” she said. “But it’s something we need, so what do you do?”

The budget committee voted not to recommend the plan. Committee Chairman Tom Gilligan couldn’t be reached by press time.

Rodger urged all residents to attend some of the commission’s informational sessions.

“If somebody has a different point of view, they can have the podium,” Rodger said. “We want to know where people are coming from on this.”