Preservation Wins....Despite the Grumbling Naysayers
Last night I almost missed American Idol. I was watching something even more exciting with lots more drama. It was a special town meeting featuring a room packed with Deerfield voters, all listening to a presentation about joining the Community Preservation Act.
Six years ago the town decided that one of main reasons people live here is because of our rural character and unspoiled land. A committee met many times and came up with a plan--and this part of the plan called for a small levy on taxpayers to meet conditions to get matching, or nearly matching state funds.
"What do the assessors think of this??" yelled one man, spearing the air with his finger. Then the head of the assessors piped up and confirmed that nobody had asked him about the levy on the taxpayers to fund open space. Suddenly, it seemed that the rosy scenario laid out by the articulate lawyer in the tie was crumbling. More naysayers got up to attack the plan, and weaken it by levying less than three percent.
But the voters in the seats had all of the facts in front of them. Though the only public comments so far were attacking the idea and trying to tear it down, the reasoning of the majority was joyfully unconflicted. This was a win-win...we'd get matching state funds if we put away a small sliver (average $59 per household) of tax money.
More naysayers, older residents grumbling about their tax bills, stood again to rail against the idea. Even though this meeting was simply to put the measure to the voters, they tried to pass a motion to defeat it. But at the end, the moderator in his three piece suit put it up to vote--and a clear majority raised their right hands and it passed. The next step is a May general election. But it looks like preservation has won the day in Deerfield.
Six years ago the town decided that one of main reasons people live here is because of our rural character and unspoiled land. A committee met many times and came up with a plan--and this part of the plan called for a small levy on taxpayers to meet conditions to get matching, or nearly matching state funds.
"What do the assessors think of this??" yelled one man, spearing the air with his finger. Then the head of the assessors piped up and confirmed that nobody had asked him about the levy on the taxpayers to fund open space. Suddenly, it seemed that the rosy scenario laid out by the articulate lawyer in the tie was crumbling. More naysayers got up to attack the plan, and weaken it by levying less than three percent.
But the voters in the seats had all of the facts in front of them. Though the only public comments so far were attacking the idea and trying to tear it down, the reasoning of the majority was joyfully unconflicted. This was a win-win...we'd get matching state funds if we put away a small sliver (average $59 per household) of tax money.
More naysayers, older residents grumbling about their tax bills, stood again to rail against the idea. Even though this meeting was simply to put the measure to the voters, they tried to pass a motion to defeat it. But at the end, the moderator in his three piece suit put it up to vote--and a clear majority raised their right hands and it passed. The next step is a May general election. But it looks like preservation has won the day in Deerfield.
Labels: CPA
posted by Max Hartshorne at 7:28 AM
2 Comments:
The people of Hatfield passed this last year. I was almost the only one to oppose it. Dont do it . It will raise your taxes. this is not good for the retired......
Some things are worth paying a little bit more in taxes for, as many of the speakers said last night. And preserving open space saves more in taxes because building houses brings new children into the schools...the most expensive item in any town's budget!
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