REPORT ON BILLS FAVORABLY REPORTED BY COMMITTEE

TITLE OF BILL:

AN ACT CONCERNING A PILOT REVENUE PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION AND INVESTMENT IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER AND NIANTIC RIVER GATEWAY AND EIGHT MILE RIVER WATERSHED REGIONS.

SPONSORS OF BILL:

REASONS FOR BILL:

This bill is designed to (i) allow municipalities to impose a buyer's tax on certain real property transactions, to be used to purchase or protect open space, forest, recreation or farm land (ii) to establish access to public trust waters, remediate brownfield or for the purchase of affordable housing.

RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:

None expressed.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:

State Rep. James F. Spallone, 36^th Dist.- Strongly supports this bill as he believes that this experimental program will give towns a tool to help them shape their destinies with respect to land use and quality of life. While Rep. Spallone believes a state-wide municipal option would be preferable, he understands why there is opposition to this concept. Therefore he supports the pilot program that this bill proposes in the spirit of compromise.

David Bingham-Sierra Club- Supports a pilot bill to help provide a “green fund”, in the towns within the CT River and Eight Mile River and Niantic River watersheds. Mr. Bingham states that these are areas where there has already been regional cooperation in land and water protection efforts, which would be enhanced by this bill.

William T. Koch- First Selectman Town of Lyme- In favor of this bill as it is supportive of local efforts in regards to open space, affordable housing, and recreation without increasing state and local taxes. This bill also gives the towns the local option to implement the law or not.

Ginger Bladen- Chair of The Lyme Open Space Committee- Supports this bill as it offers towns a tool with which to implement important open space, affordable housing, environmental clean-up, and recreational facility costs. She also feels that the bill is modestly designed as a “trial balloon” and could be expanded appropriately.

Adam R. Moore- CT Forest & Park Association- The Association strongly supports this enabling legislation that would allow towns in the CT River, Niantic River, and Eight Mile River Watershed regions to impose a buyer's tax of not more than one half of one percent of the consideration paid for a conveyance of real property.

Ralph Eno- Former First Selectmen of Old Lyme- Supports this bill as it is enabling legislation which allows communities in the region to decide, at their discretion, whether to enact a modest real estate conveyance tax with the proceeds earmarked for dedicated accounts to help fund open space acquisition and construction of affordable housing among other things.

Linda Bireley- Vice President of the Lyme Land Conservation Trust- The people of Lyme are overwhelmingly in favor of land conservation.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:

Norm Krayem- CT Association of Realtors- The seductive title of this bill masks its chief consequence- imposing a new tax on home buyers.