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BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y. The Bedford Town Board approved a change to its open space fund allotment from 3 percent to 1 percent of tax revenue, but it will not be taken by additional tax collection. Instead, it will be funded through the towns 2012 general fund, with plans to incorporate a new referendum on the fund.
A local referendum enacted in 2000 allowed the town government to allocate 3 percent of tax revenue per year to buy territory as land preservation. Earlier this year, the town board proposed the new open space funding rate would be chosen from half-percent increments up to 2 percent, or choose to suspend it for a year.
Many of those in attendance supported the open space tax amendment, however, many people were concerned about how this would affect town employment. Based on the proposed preliminary budget, which has not yet been adopted by the town board, it is probable that three public works employees will lose their jobs.
But Supervisor Lee V. A. Roberts insisted the open space levy and the potential job cuts are not connected.
Jobs can only be saved by coming to the bargaining table, not through open space funds, she said. In truth, the three job layoffs contained in the preliminary budget were made after the open space funding had been totally eliminated, so it is wrong to connect the two.
Roberts also spoke of the benefits of the open space fund, which should not be considered just a luxury, she said. This is a time when land values are depressed, and the properties long sought after may be in our sites.
Recently reelected Councilman Chris Burdick said he felt the fund is important to Bedford and offered his own money to support the open forum, check in hand.
To put the money where my mouth is, Im going to make my first contribution on behalf of my wife and me for this year, and well continue the contributions throughout the period the open space fund is reduced, he said.
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