To all members of the NVBHA mailing list:
This issue has no direct relationship to the RG&E power line proposal that got us started in this organization, but we thought you would be interested in it because it effects all the taxpayers in the Naples School District.
If you live in the Naples School District & Pay Property Taxes, we suggest that you read below ASAP. Time is of the essence. You may or may not have heard about the SCIDA PILOT Program - this is your opportunity to learn a little about it.
Eleven (11) of the wind turbines in the Cohocton and Prattsburgh wind farm projects are actually located in the Naples School district. The owners of the windmills and the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA) failed to notify the Naples School Board of this until just before the holidays. They negotiated a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) with the windmill owners and other interested parties that would pay much lower taxes than would be charged if full dollar valuation assessments were applied. They expect Naples School district to accept these terms.
We were told that these 11 turbines will have a value of $2M to $3M each. Doing the math, that would be $22 million to $33 million worth of hardware in the Naples School District. If we accept their PILOT payment, the school district would receive appox $3700.00 a YEAR. Kind of a no brainer... It doesn't matter if you like the wind turbines or not, our school district should at least get the maximum dollars in tax revenues for our students.
Some of you may not be up to speed on the wind turbine scene to the south, but it is quite serious here now. If you have not driven to them or taken a drive down West Hollow Road, you need to do so asap. Some of the turbines have blades on them with many more turbines to be built. If you look to the east of the Valley, picture another 11 wind turbines there. These are the 11 turbines that will be in the Naples School District.
The Naples School Board needs to take a position on the PILOT Program & we as taxpayers need to also take a stand. We are asking for full taxation on the wind turbines that are built anywhere in our School District. If you're okay with the windmill owners taking advantage of a tax break, then do nothing.
If you believe that the wind turbine corporations should pay their fair share, as we do, then we urge you to continue reading this email. We ask that you to become active in this cause. We can make this very easy for you to take a stand. The SCIDA Board Members will meet again on Friday, January 18, 2008. We need to oppose them as a group - not with a petition, but with individual emails or faxes or letters. We were told my Mr. Sherron himself, that he would read all letters, emails & faxes but the deadline for receiving these documents is Thursday, JAN the 10th. That is tomorrow.
Below is a sample letter to Mr. Sherron, the Executive Director of SCIDA and his board. Please help us in squashing the PILOT program to be voted upon by SCIDA on the 18th of JAN...... Yes Friday, 1/18/08. For your convenience, below is a sample letter. Just copy and paste the letter below and print and fax to Mr. Sherron. Or, copy and paste and email to him from your email account. Make sure to include your name and address in the signature. Feel free to add your own comments to the letter below or just copy as it is.
PLEASE DO NOT PROCRASTINATE - THERE IS NO TIME FOR DELAY - WE URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION!
Thank you in advance for your effort to help us throw a RED FLAG and try to STOP the SCIDA PILOT PROGRAM in our school district.
Sincerely,
NVBHA - Naples Valley Bristol Hills Association
No comments:
Post a Comment