The village recently passed a $1.7 million bond for water line improvement on the Route 9 corridor. This cost will be borne by all district users. This is subject to Permissive Referendum. What this means is that you can collect names on a petition and put it up for a public vote with the election machines.
Some have stated that this improvement is meant to benefit a specific landowner, who will now be able to propose High Density Housing on property that is in the town.
Note: The Village owns it's water wells inside the Town of Fishkill, and then sells the water to town residents at a nice profit. Don't ask me how, but that's how it is. If you live in a water district outside of the village. It's taxation without representation. You can do a Permissive Referendum but you cannot vote for or against those that control your water.
If you live in Glenham, Beacon Hills, Forge Brook or even as far as Wappinger Town. You are out of luck.
Do I understand this--that the Village of Fishkill can pass a referendum which the entire town will have to pay for, and that, in turn, taxpayers in the Town may receive little economic benefit from this improvement? Will there be financial considerations in the form of lower water prices or some kind of tax break for town-outside-of village taxpayers?
ReplyDeleteIt's not the entire town. It would be water districts that receive their water from the village well, located in the town.
ReplyDeleteI attended the village meeting where the water rates were increased. The village board said that there was a contract with the town that allowed them to do this. No one from the town was at that meeting.
But yes, the village can pass a resolution raising your water rates and you basically have no say. If you have any questions, you can all me at 831-2126.