Red Hook trustees ask town to formalize village role in Community Preservation Fund decisions

Trustees voted to send a formal letter to the Town of Red Hook asking that the town negotiate an intermunicipal agreement (IMA) granting the villages formal participation in Community Preservation Fund (CPF) decision-making.

Trustee Fran summarized the issue: the town’s CPF is being amended to broaden allowed uses and the advisory committee’s plan suggests allocating a minimum portion of CPF proceeds to villages and making villages active participants in decisions. The village board’s letter asks the town to delay any county/state request to extend or expand the CPF until an IMA is negotiated so village property owners — who contribute to CPF revenue when real estate transfers occur in the village — have representation and a guaranteed, equitable allocation for village projects.

The approved draft letter includes the line, "Taxation without representation is unjust," and asks the town to commit to the CPF advisory-committee recommendation that villages be designated active participants in allocation decisions and to reserve an annual amount for village benefit. Trustee Fran said she will read the letter at the Town public hearing the following evening.

Why it matters: the CPF is a locally raised pool of funds derived from real-estate transfer taxes; clarifying village representation and reserved village shares would change how CPF projects affecting village property are prioritized and funded.

Next steps: The board will send the letter on village letterhead and plans to have the full board sign it; Trustee Fran will present the letter and speak at the town’s CPF public hearing.