Prelude to another tax

To the editor: Taxpayers need to get educated on the Town of Warwick’s Real Estate Transfer Tax Proposition. The tax is being presented as a newcomer Tax or Community Preservation Fund. The fact is anybody who buys real estate in this town will have to pay the tax. Warwick is the only town in Orange County that is going to be voting on this new tax. The tax amounts to .75 percent on the sale of real estate and is paid at the closing along with all the other charges and taxes. Did you know that Orange County and the State of New York both charge a real estate transfer tax. New York’s is one of the highest in the nation. The Town of Warwick has more than 626 acres of parkland, 2,500 acres of unbuildable land and it has preserved over 2,100 acres of open space through its P.D.R. program, giving the town a grand total of 5,226 acres of open space. The total doesn’t take into account the fact that every subdivision must allocate 50 percent of its land for open space. In my opinion, Warwick’s Real Estate Transfer tax is a prelude to the self-interest groups’ desire to extend the P.D.R. tax in a few years, and then all taxpayers will be taxed again. I have some serious reservations about spending more and more on open space. Perhaps our town leaders should take a more fiscally responsible approach, finding clean, low-impact commercial tax ratables, instead of wanting to raise our taxes on the whims of a self-interest group. Like cows, commercial enterprises do not go to school and require very little if any municipal services. This proposition will be on the ballot, Election Day, Nov. 7. Please join me in voting no on this proposition. Thank you. Anthony Portelli Former mayor, Village of Warwick