Hooksett Sewer Commission Chairman Sid Baines says a $9.4 million warrant article that taxpayers will vote on in May should be a no-brainer.

That’s because not a cent of the price tag will affect local property taxes and the article, which would fund a project to double the capacity of the local wastewater treatment plant, is crucial.

The majority of the money – just over $7 million – will be awarded through funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan of 2009. Baines said the rest of the tab will be covered by ratepayers who use the sewer system in Hooksett or collected from developers who pay system development fees.

“In order to be on the list for the stimulus money, the state said we had to put together a (warrant) article,” he said. “If this doesn’t pass, we can’t apply for any stimulus money.”

The reason the Sewer Commission is required to put the article on the town warrant is because it needs permission from the local taxpayers – a three-fifths majority of them, to be precise – to spend federal money on the project, which would double the size of the treatment plant.

It’s a project that’s sorely needed, said Bruce Kudrick, superintendent of the plant. “This town is growing by leaps and bounds. Right now, (the wastewater treatment plant) is 100 percent at capacity,” Kudrick said. “All we’re trying to do is get in the game for the stimulus money.”

The fact that no new developments in Hooksett can be linked into the town’s existing sewer system is a huge detractor in luring new business, Kudrick said.

Baines, who was scheduled to speak during a public hearing on the issue at the Town Council meeting Feb. 18, stressed that none of the money for the plant expansion would be raised from property taxes.

“We want the public to know that it will not affect their tax rate,” Baines said.

What may be affected, however is the ratepayers’ bills. With the federal stimulus bill only just passed on Feb. 17, Baines said it has been unknown exactly what plans would be offered.

There may be a grant for projects like this one, or there may be money offered only with matching funds paid by Hooksett. Still, Baines said, passage of the warrant is needed simply to be eligible.