v How much is this tax raise?

Ø This tax raise is a 50% increase of the Wallace Township local income tax. Currently, 1% of your income is deducted for local taxes. Half of which goes to the school district and half of which goes to Wallace Township. The referendum proposes to raise your Wallace income tax from .5% to .75%.

v How much will this put the township and its citizens in debt?

Ø The township plans to borrow 2.9 million dollars, and take 20 years to pay it off.

v Can this tax be raised again?

Ø Yes, this referendum can be placed on the ballot again and our local taxes doubled from the original .5%. That’s why it is important to stop this tax now before it gets even bigger.

v Have other townships done this?

Ø No, not like this. There have been other townships that have raised taxes, and two townships that have borrowed money. But, according to the Open Space Task Force’s own information, nowhere in Chester County’s 74 townships has a township passed an "open space" tax AND borrowed money against that "open space" tax. That’s because it is risky and not necessary.

v Will this new tax ever be repealed?

Ø When is the last time you can remember a tax being repealed? Plan on this one sticking around and probably being doubled as soon as enough time has passed. As well, the loan can be increased as income increases in the township (without a new vote). This first vote is just to get the ball rolling.

v How much can be kept "undeveloped" for 2.9 million dollars?

Ø Using the numbers the proponents of this tax have offered, we could afford 114 acres of development rights, of which, 57 acres we would have gotten for free without a tax increase. According to current zoning ordinances half of all developable land must be set aside for "open space". The number typically exceeds 60% when factoring that wetlands, flood plains, steep slopes and historic buffers must be put aside before calculating developable land. This means 1500+ acres of the 2600 acres of undeveloped land in Wallace township will be set aside for "open space" with NO tax raise and NO 20 years of debt.

v How will this affect our property taxes?

Ø This will push our property taxes higher over time for two reasons. First, when the development rights are sold from a property that property value will drop dramatically. Thus, we will all have to pay higher property taxes almost immediately to make up the difference. Secondly, when a recession hits it will drive incomes lower. When we can not make payments on this loan, property taxes will have to be raised to cover the deficit.

v How can the residents utilize this land, once development rights have been obtained?

Ø Most likely residents will not be able to set foot on the property. That means no park, no nature preserve, no trails, nothing… There is a remote possibility of getting some access for trails, but it is unlikely, and it will come with a price tag.

v Are there other ways to save "open space" that don’t burden families?

Ø There are county and state grants that we can apply for that would make available money to buy land in our township. We also have strong land preserving ordinances in effect that matched with a solid Planning Commission can link large tracts and trails together across the township. Lastly, we would strongly support the formation of a citizens group to pool funds together to purchase land in this pursuit of preserving our scenic views.

MORE TO COME IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS...