To the Editor:

Tuesday, Sept. 1, is the day Westerlo voters can decide whether to approve a $2.75 million bond and the 20-year tax increase that goes along with it.

The money would fund a new highway garage for 1.8 million, and renovations to the town hall for $895,000.

There is a need to attend to these buildings, but I do not support this project. Here's why:

— Lack of planning and a history of inaction and neglect:

— Knox saved for 10 years before building its town hall six years ago. By contrast, Westerlo knew about the problems at the town garage for many years. Patching the roof did not solve the problem of leaks in the courtroom and elsewhere. The board allocated $100,000 to replace the roof in at least two budgets, but never did, and the money was used for “other things”;

— After avoiding effective action for years, the entire board went all-in with Delaware Engineering's plan, in a matter of months, without public input, without a set of alternative proposals to address the issues of these buildings, and without alternative funding options for the newly expanded project;

— The new $1.8 million highway garage is based on Windham's design and budget. While it is a nice garage, in no way can Westerlo be compared with Windham in its ability to support such a project. Windham financed about $500,000 of its $2 million cost from existing funds, has considerable commercial property income, and its residential taxpayers were assessed about $20 per $1,000 of assessed value. Westerlo can finance about $70,000 (which is a restricted fund left over from a grant used to purchase the town hall building), has very limited commercial property income, and its residents would pay about $100 per $1,400 assessed value per parcel per year; and

— Westerlo has failed to properly maintain both buildings. Ice dams this past winter buckled the floors in the town-hall assembly room. This building stood as a school through many prior winters without such extensive damage. The concrete steps used to access the gathering room are crumbling. If the town hasn't had the money or the will to maintain the existing buildings, what about the maintenance plans and costs for the new/renovated buildings?

— Questionable financial management:

— A 2014 New York State Comptroller's audit noted, “Poor budgeting practices, combined with the lack of a multiyear financial plan, makes it increasingly difficult for Town officials to fund operations, especially if an unforeseen emergency event should occur”;

— That same audit revealed that “the water district fund owed the general fund a cumulative balance of $66,388 as of December 31, 2013.” This money was collected from all the taxpayers in the town, not just those in the water district.  Plans to restore this money to the general fund are casual, at best. No resolution has been adopted to return the money to the general fund in a time frame recommended by the audit;

— The Freedom of Information Law says the public has a right to know how government spends money, but accounting of monthly financial statements are not provided to the public at meetings, in minutes, or on the website, so we are not really sure what the town's financial status is;

— There has been no consistent or substantial effort to publicly address issues related to the town's need for additional income nor any long-range financial planning; and

— Westerlo receives a high percentage of its income from a share of county sales tax revenue. That revenue is projected to be significantly lower this year. Will Westerlo receive less than expected?

— Tax assessments:

— Westerlo has not done a town-wide reassessment since the 1950s. This means that property taxes are discriminatory, some being assessed at 1950s’ values, and some at 2015 values;

— Since the bond is based on assessed values, some residents would pay more than their fair share;

— Many residents are on fixed incomes and would have a difficult time paying for increased taxes; and

— The Westerlo Volunteer Fire Department has publicly announced, more than once, that it will soon need a new building. Financing that project would likely further burden property taxes.

The vote on Sept. 1 was forced on the town board by a petition for referendum. It's a chance for the people to decide whether they support this project.

The board decided there wasn't time to process absentee ballots, so voting must be done in person at the town hall. I hope Westerlo residents will take the time to examine the facts, make a decision, and vote.

Dianne Sefcik

Westerlo