In 2000, voters in seven communities in Westchester passed open space funding propositions. Here are the seven propositions:
Bedford
Shall a local law enacted by the Town Board of the Town of Bedford by which the Town of Bedford would establish a special tax levy in the amount of 3% of the General Fund and Highway Fund, which revenues will be placed in a fund for payment of Town indebtedness issued to purchase and improve open spaces and areas for park and recreational uses and to protect the surface and groundwater resources of the Town, be approved?
Irvington
Shall the Village of Irvington, New York, issue General Obligation Bonds not exceeding $3,000,000, bearing interest not exceeding the maximum legal rate when sold, maturing in 30 annual installments beginning the year after issuance, to finance acquisition of various permanent interests or rights in real property in and for the village, for preservation of open spaces and areas?
Lewisboro
Shall the following resolution be approved? A bond resolution dated September 5, 2000 authorizing the issuance of up to $2,000,000 (Two Million Dollars) Bonds of the Town of Lewisboro, Westchester County, New York, to finance the cost of the acquisition of various permanent interests or rights in real property in and for the town, for preservation of open spaces and areas.
North Salem
Shall the qualified electors of the Town of North Salem, in the County of Westchester, State of New York, approve a Bond Resolution adopted by the Town Board of such town on August 29, 2000 authorizing the issuance of up to $2,000,000 aggregate principal amount serial bonds of the Town of North Salem, New York, pursuant to the Local Finance law, to finance the acquisition of lands and rights in land, including conservation easements in and for such Town, and which authorizes the issuance of up to $2,000,000 of such town’s general obligation bonds supported by the pledge of such town’s faith and credit, such bond to have a maximum maturity of 30 years?
Pound Ridge
Shall the Town of Pound Ridge establish a capital reserve fund dedicated to acquiring ownership rights, easements or interest in open space areas, as defined in { 247 of the General Municipal Law, and to maintaining and preserving those open space areas. Such acquisitions shall BE financed from the annual general tax levy for a period of ten (10) years, commencing January 1, 2001, in an amount equal to one dollar ($1.00) per $1,000 of assessed value.
Somers
Shall the bond resolution dated September 7, 2000 authorizing the issuance of not to exceed $2,000,000 serial bonds of the Town of Somers, Westchester County, New York to pay the cost of the acquisition of parcels of land, or rights or interests in land for active and passive park and recreational purposes and the preservation of open spaces, throughout and in and for said Town, including incidental expenses in connection therewith, at a maximum estimated cost of $2,000,000 providing that the period of probable usefulness of such class of objects or purposes is thirty years, and that the maximum maturity of such serial bonds will exceed five years, delegating to the Supervisor the power to sell and to authorize the issuance of and to sell bond anticipation of the issuance of and sale of such serial bonds, pledging the faith and credit of said Town to the payment of the principal of and interest of such obligations and providing for an estoppel provision, be approved?
Yorktown
Should the Town of Yorktown create a dedicated Open Space and Conservation District, subject to New York State enabling legislation, that would be funded through an annual per lot charge of $30?
In 2004, voters in North Castle passed an open space funding proposition. Here is the text:
North Castle
Shall the Town of North Castle bond resolution authorizing the issuance of $3,000,000 serial bonds to pay the cost of the acquisition of land for the preservation of open spaces and areas be approved?
In 2005, voters in two communities in Westchester passed open space funding propositions. Here are the two propositions:
North Salem
Shall the bond resolution dated August 30, 2005 authorizing the issuance of not to exceed $2,000,000 serial bonds of the Town of North Salem, Westchester County, New York to pay the cost of the acquisition of parcels of land, or rights or interests in land for passive park purposes and the preservation of open spaces, throughout and in and for said Town, including incidental expenses in connection therewith, at a maximum estimated cost of $2,000,000 providing that the period of probable usefulness of such class of objects or purposes is thirty years, and that the maximum maturity of such serial bonds will exceed five years, delegating to the Supervisor the power to sell and issue such serial bonds and to authorize the issuance of and to sell bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of and sale of such serial bonds, pledging the faith and credit of said Town to the payment of the principal of and interest on such obligations and providing for an estoppel provision, be approved?
Yorktown
Shall the bond resolution dated September 6, 2005 authorizing the issuance of $5,000,000 serial bonds of the Town of Yorktown to pay for the cost of the acquisition of parcels of land, or rights or interests in land for active and passive park and recreational purposes and the preservation of open spaces, at a maximum estimated cost of $5,000,000 providing a useful life of thirty (30) years and pledging the faith and credit of said Town to the payment of such debt be approved?
In 2010, voters in Pound Ridge passed an open space funding proposition and the Bedford Town Board extended that Town's funding authorization. Here are the proposition and the Town Board resolution:
Pound Ridge
Shall the Town of Pound Ridge continue to make contributions to a capital reserve fund dedicated to acquiring ownership rights, easements or interests in Open Space areas, as defined in Section 247 of the General Municipal Law, and to maintaining and preserving those Open Space areas previously or hereafter acquired by the fund. Such contributions shall continue to be financed from the annual general tax levy for a period of ten (10) years, commencing January 1, 2011, to be phased in as follows: $.50/$1,000 of assessed value in 2011; $.75/$1,000 of assessed value in 2012 and $1.00/$1,000 of assessed value from 2013 through 2020.
Bedford
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Bedford adopts introductory Local Law 3 - 2010 to extend the term of the Open Space Special Levy for and additional five years, ending on December 31, 2015, subject to a thirty (30) day permissive referendum.