Town Reduces Rate of Open Space Tax, Preserves New Parcels

The town board approved a two percent reduction of Bedford's open space tax Tuesday night and agreed to a town-wide referendum in November to gauge public support for its decade-old land acquisition program.

In two successive unanimous votes in public hearings preceding the town board meeting, members first repealed the three percent tax, in effect since 2002, and approved the new one percent surcharge, proposed to last five years and estimated to cost the average homeowner $20 annually.

The new rate will raise approximately $179,000 per year for land preservation, down from about a half-million dollars annually.

Supervisor Lee Roberts noted that the reduction when the board agreed to allocate $175,000 from the town's fund balance for the program in 2012 and put the ordinance to a public vote in November.

"We've had discussions with the committee and our partners in open space, including the and B2020...now residents will be heard on this one percent tax," she said. 

Eight speakers—including water conservationist Marian Rose and Candace Schaefer, executive director at the Westchester Land Trust—expressed almost unanimously that the reduction was disappointing but at the very least kept a program going that protected the rural character of Bedford while keeping taxes in check.

The small crowd was a supportive one, and a contrast to the residents who turned out for a in which some speakers argued that town employees were being laid off while open space was protected.

Glenn Ticehurst, a member of the town's open space committee said Tuesday night he was "keenly aware" of the financial pressures on the town but recognized the many environmental benefits of the program. 

"We are not crazy about it [the reduction] but we get it," he said. "The don't want to lose it, but we do want to use this money to partner with other organizations to acquire more properties should they come up."

A 30-year Bedford resident and chair of a water and land use task force for B2020, Diane Lewis said keeping the program going was tantamount to leaving a legacy for future generations.

"We have a huge issue with taxes due to pensions and benefits but we can't give up," explained Lewis, saying that preserving open space also promoted a clean water supply.  "We can see resources being challenged and it’s our responsibility to go the distance and maintain the fund, while for the moment cutting it back."

The tax cap effect

Though many speakers cited the 70 percent voter approval for the open space tax ten years ago it was today's tighter financial times and a new state-imposed property tax cap that spurred a board discussion of what would happen if the referendum passed.

"This referendum is to find out how people feel about [open space] now," said David Gabrielson. "If it passes, we will exceed the cap. My feeling is that if we repeal this open space levy and have the referendum, it means we can’t do that and live in 2 percent cap world and continue to fund things a lot of people in Bedford feel we ought to fund. It’s important that we understand that context."

Chris Burdick agreed, saying that based on financial projections the town would have "an enormously difficult time" staying within the cap. "It is appropriate to take pulse of community and ask 'do you feel it’s important as we do to preserve the character of the town of Bedford?"

To date, over $4 million has been spent from the open space fund to purchase over 70 acres of open space—including and the —in conjunction with private donors and the state Department of Environmental Protection the Westchester Land Trust. As of Dec. 2012, the fund held $2,885,029.

Candace Schaefer and Don Scott, a board member of the Westchester County League of Conservation Voters, and a member of the town's wetlands commission, said they would both get involved in an effort to educate voters on the importance of open space through door-to-door outreach and an educational forum planned for the fall.

New deal approved

The town also approved a new open space buy that leverages over $3.6 million in private donations to purchase almost 20 acres in the Twin Lakes watershed in Bedford.

"This is the last opportunity to protect incredible valleys on this property," said Rod Christie, the executive director of the Mianus River Gorge, in advocating for a $200,000 contribution from the town.

If not purchased, homes would be built on the property as part of a subdivision under construction, Christie said. Combined with existing conservation easement and general protection area, over 50-acres in total would be protected. The purchase is critical for the protection of a water supply for 130,000 residents of New York and Connecticut, he added.

The Mianus River Gorge plans to take over the public access and maintanence of the property.

The town approved the funds which would give Bedford a conservation easement on the purchased land, pending a decision about how the funds would be sourced—either from the fund or through a bond.


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