Why saving land
benefits everyone in Plumstead
By
Tom Alvaré, Guest Columnist, Intelligencer,
"The Soapbox," October 29, 2009
Plumstead Township Supervisor Vince Formica's guest column (Oct. 23) opposing the upcoming open space park referendum
in Plumstead Township deserves a positive response. His negative view is only looking at how bad future tax increases might be over the
next 10 years if we continue preserving open space. And he is assuming the worst possible outcomes as though good, smart township
stewardship can't improve the outcome.
I understand the source of his negative view, given the state of the economy and its effect on families. But most residents
of Plumstead Township, and previous and current township supervisors, share my brighter view of the benefits of preserving open space, including
the overall tax savings that it brings each of us.
According to the township newsletter supporting the last open space referendum, for every dollar of property taxes
collected on farmland and open space in our area, schooling and public services cost taxpayers less than 10 cents of that
dollar for that same land.
Farmers and open land provide positive cash flow to the taxing authorities. If we allow developers to buy the land
and build houses, the township, county and school district spend $1.12 for every one dollar collected on the same land. Not
only do we lose the advantages of farms and open land, but we would need to face tax increases to cover the revenue shortfall
from the new homes. Those tax increases from development would be permanent. In the alternative, the tax savings from preservation
would be permanent, too.
What struck me when looking more deeply into where Plumstead's real estate tax dollars go was, of all of the real estate
and school taxes we pay, the average home pays just $420 in township property taxes a year. For that, I get to enjoy all of
the public safety benefits of the police, fire and EMT services, local roads, building and code enforcement and environmental protections provided
by Plumstead Township 365 days a year.
Yes, those of us earning paychecks also pay one-half percent in earned income tax to cover township operations. But
with all of the negative spin being put on funding preservation, I realized that the $420 in real estate taxes we pay also
covers the entire 2,000 acres of open space already preserved in Plumstead. Without that preservation, there would be so much
more traffic, more pollution, more stress on our drinking water resources, more schools to fund, more police, fire and municipal
services and so much more property taxes. We are already benefiting greatly from past preservation success.
The negative view would be to do nothing and become overwhelmed with development. Our zoning continues to need strengthening
but can only go so far in managing development. Preservation gives us the most flexibility when combined with strong zoning
to shape the future of our community.
As bad as things looked a year ago when the stock market and economy were in unprecedented decline, we did manage to
hold the line on taxes in 2009 using our reserves and trimming expenses. But no budget has even been presented yet for 2010,
so no one really knows how much or how little taxes will increase to cover operations in 2010.
Many residents already enjoy several small township parks and open space areas. Yet, in our long history, with so much
land already preserved in our open space program, and with so many new homes built and on the drawing board, Plumstead Township
has failed to provide community facilities, ball parks or playgrounds to meet the changing needs of our residents. Most people
must get in their cars and drive back and forth to neighboring townships to use their fields, wasting fuel, wasting time and
polluting the environment. One tank of gas saved a year per taxpayer more than pays for the park referendum.
Mr. Formica failed to mention that taxes on open space being acquired today were approved by the voters in the last
referendum in 2005 and how much we have already saved in taxes through open space. Because of the economy, land is cheaper
now to preserve, interest rates on the bonds for preservation are at historic lows, and more residents are interested in preserving
their properties. Many of us desire to improve our community regardless of whether our children will stay or grow up and move
away.
If voters do come out on Nov. 3 and approve the park referendum, I pledge to work diligently with the residents and
the board of supervisors. We'll develop a plan and work with partners and stakeholders to make it a reality. Our community
needs this now.
Tom Alvaré is a Plumstead Township supervisor serving in his second year of a six-year term.
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