‘Warwick's destiny lies with you'

To the editor: Recent letters to the editor urging a no vote on the Nov. 7th Community Preservation Fund referendum contain several misstatements or omissions of fact. First there is a statement that “the drafters of the law want to avoid the effort of petitioning the voters” for additional PDR funding. Current residents have paid their share and can afford no more. This referendum is in fact a petitioning of the voters to ask new buyers of homes to contribute and can be rescinded, at anytime, by petition and a subsequent referendum. It also is not limitless as it expires in 2025. There is also a suggestion that this allows politicians to play favorites and act as real estate agents. The law actually prohibits elected officials from serving on the advisory board created to make recommendations for development rights to be acquired. One of the members also has to be an active farmer. As with PDR every single expenditur is subject to a public hearing before it is accepted. Also it is stated that this will be passed on to the seller when in fact there is no evidence that where this fee exists that it is paid by anyone but the buyer of the property. The law makes the buyer responsible for this one-time fee. It was also suggested that this is a way to extend PDR until our residents can be taxed again. Let me restate our residents have paid their share and can afford no more. The last point made is that every time “we tax someone it is an erosion of everyone’s freedom.” No one “likes” taxes, least of all me. We do, however, pay taxes for things we perceive as vital to our way of life. This is a targeted tax with a specific purpose and a direct connection to a result, namely the reduction in the number of new students that need educating, the protection of our leading industry (farming), and the preservation of our water resources. Because this is a decision that is too important for the few to make, it has been placed in the hands of you, the voters. Warwick’s destiny lies with you. Please get the facts and in the true spirit of democracy vote as you see fit. Michael P. Sweeton Warwick Town Supervisor