Realtors board opposing home sales tax in Brookhaven
The Long Island Board of Realtors has an election-time campaign in Brookhaven.
As a major part of the nonprofit Brookhaven Citizens Against Unfair Taxes, LIBOR has helped mount a $200,000-plus campaign against the town’s referendum proposal for a 2 percent tax on most home sales to fund open space programs. Under the plan, the tax money would buy land for the Community Preservation Fund, while developers would be able to purchase building rights from up to 25 percent of the preserved land and be allowed to build at a greater density elsewhere. First-time home buyers would be exempt.
The campaign has put up signs on lawns, mailed out at least 30,000 letters, posted posters, paid for TV, radio and print ads, and also set up StopTheBrookhavenTax.com.
“We’ve gotten a lot of phone calls that said ‘We’ve gotten your fliers. We’ve seen your ads. Now I’m being educated on this,’ ” said Meredith Dulberg, LIBOR’s legislative liaison. “We’re not opposed to open space. We’re opposed to the tax on the homes, adding money to the down payment and closing costs.”
Four years ago, LIBOR and the Long Island Builders Institute fought a similar proposal – it did not have the transfer of building rights -- and Brookhaven Citizens Against Higher Taxes won a lawsuit that scrapped chances of the plan getting onto the ballot.
Those who supported the proposal had described the group as a front for LIBOR and LIBI.
Although LIBOR yesterday said group is also composed of residents and one independent builder, the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, led by Richard Amper, recently called for a boycott of Realtors over the taxes-for-open-space proposal. When asked for resident member of the group to contact, LIBOR suggested someone who does live in Brookhaven but is also an associate broker in the Setauket office of Coach Realtors. He was not available for comment.
Tuesday's vote may be close.
This time, LIBI supports the proposal, despite objections from some rank and file members, because it made the transfer of building rights part of the deal.
LIBI head Bob Wieboldt believes the Community Preservation Fund can generate more affordable housing by allowing more units per property, which cuts construction costs, which then would likely lead to more affordable prices.
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