To the Editor:

With Brookfield properties assessment dropping over the next five years the rest of us can expect to see increases accordingly.

Looking at the whole picture, if landowners are to survive the next five years of steadily increasing assessments then one solution is glaring us in the face. The school district which accounts for 51 % of my tax liability can no longer be sustained. (No STAR)

Using the statistics provided on The New York State School Report Card Fiscal Accountability (data.nysed.gov) for the school district there has been 22% increase in student expenditures per student and a 8% increase in special education student expenditure per student over the past six years (2008-09 to 2014-15). The cost per student is 27% higher per student and 42% higher per special education student than the state average for a similar school district.

There are fewer than 300 students and there are approximately 45 educators, which equates to roughly one teacher for every seven students.

Which begs the question how wisely are school levied tax dollars being spent and where is the justification for the financial burden placed on land owners?

Other than Brookfield, who are the land owners in the township?

The 2016 county final assessment roll for the township indicates there are 1728 parcels on the tax roll. Ninety-three are state owned, 33 are owned by utilities and non-homestead class and 61 are wholly exempt -- they pay no taxes at all. That leaves 1541 parcels to cover both the school budget ($7,250,000) and the town budget ($1,967,558); a combined total of $9,217,558. If all parcels were equal that’s $5,981.54 per parcel. Does that seem realistic to anyone?

Who benefits from the Racquette River the most? The people who live in the township, whether permanent or seasonal, are they the ones who benefit most? Or is it a multi-billion dollar multi-national corporation? If I’ve said it once I’ve said it 20 times, this “deal” with Brookfield was no deal at all….it was a strong arm job handed out by lawyers with the assistance of Albany.

A fair portion of land on and around the river is owned by Brookfield and the State of New York. Brookfield’s financial responsibility is being retracted and the state doesn’t pay taxes on its assessed value. So shouldn’t there be some kind of financial relief from the state?

As much as I understand how wonderful it is to have an outstanding student to teacher ratio that CPCS has, it’s just not feasible any longer.

In the last 35 years I’ve never seen so many properties go up for sale in such a small community. Wonder what is driving that push to sell?

Tracey Haggett-Sloan

Colton