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Open Space Generates Overwhelming Debt For Taxpayers—Opportunity for DevelopersAugust 14, 2009
Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence boasts proudly of the $35
million dollars he has spent for “open space.” There are a few things
you should know about his “open-space” purchases that he will not
tell you. Thanks in large measure to these purchases our general bonded indebtedness has increased tenfold. In 2000 when he became supervisor our debt service (repayment of interest and principle) on our general bonds was only $870,000 a year. In 2009 it will be over $8.3 million a year. Our town budget for 2009 calls for expenditures of $31.9 million for the “general town” tax. This means that almost a quarter of our town tax line goes to pay for debt service, almost all of which was created by St. Lawrence since he became supervisor. Despite St. Lawrence’s claims to the contrary his so-called open-space purchases were not made for open space. Most of the resolutions passed by the town authorizing these purchases are for “open space and other municipal purposes.” This means he can dispose of this land for just about any purpose he desires. We have already seen his attempt to sell the Tilcon Quarry site to one of his most favored political supporters/developers for perhaps a tenth of what it is really worth. St. Lawrence also will not tell you about the heavy losses entailed each year from the operation of underutilized facilities. We have the barely used Rustic Brook tennis facility, the half empty Ramapo stables, and, most significantly the huge and vastly underutilized St. Lawrence center constructed in western Ramapo--about as far away from our population center as possible. Then, of course, we have the usually dark cultural arts center in Spring Valley and the similarly deserted senior citizens center on Route 202 in Suffern. St. Lawrence has done his best to hide his expensive grandiosity through financial gimmickery. He has taken money raised through Ramapo’s highway tax and transferred it into his general budget and taken county money given to Ramapo to help fund our police department and used it for the same purpose. These clever but dishonest tactics don’t reduce our tax burden by even a penny. When St. Lawrence shakes your hand count your fingers. If you think that Supervisor St. Lawrence is finally coming to his senses consider that Ramapo’s total borrowing last year was $27 million and his own office expenses (including salaries) has increased 70% in just the last two years. Scary, isn’t it?
Robert I. Rhodes, Chairman, Preserve Ramapo
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