Rindge tax should be left alone
The Rindge Warrant Article #14 looks to reduce the Current Use Change Tax, collected when property is removed from current use to be developed, from 100% going to the Conservation Fund. The Conservation Fund is used by the town to purchase and/or to protect land to conserve the natural resources of Rindge, the natural resources that maintain the rural character that we love of Rindge. There is no water flowing into Rindge. All the water we depend on falls from the sky, so we need to protect the lands that store and filter the water we drink and use every day.
Since 1996 the Current Use Change Tax has gone to fund these efforts and, although the deliberative session amended the original 80% reduction to 1%, the principle of conservation remains the same. As more land is removed from current use and developed, there is even less Current Use Change Tax to apply to conservation. It is a diminishing source of revenue for the Conservation Fund moving forward.
Changing the allocation does not change the tax rate but may inhibit future resource protections in a timely manner. I feel that changing this proven allocation is short-sighted and not in the best interest of keeping Rindge rural and keeping it the town we love and a great place to raise a family. Please join me in voting no on #14.