A response to the mayor

Usually, I like to deal with issues. The mayor's letter, however, was a personal attack on me and my husband. I will respond and correct the record. Living on a farm, I'm used to muck so let s wade through his letter.

First sentence is a lie. You quote me as saying "Waterpark PILOT program would be bad for Vernon." I never said that; the newspaper editor gave my letter that heading. Next, you talk about my example of the Trojan Horse and say I am defaming and maligning the developer. That is not what I was doing. You cannot make up your own version of history. I was telling people to stop talking about the proposed waterpark and look at the financing proposal that would pay for it. PILOTs and RABs are new for Vernon and people need to understand the ramifications. The numbers I quoted came directly from the developer as you well know since you were at the presentation. Andy said these are the numbers. What am I to do? Make up numbers? Yes, you will negotiate and for all I know, you might give Andy a 100 percent tax abatement [like they did in PA]. Then there will be different numbers.

If Andy's Waterpark and 400-room hotel are not financially successful, he just might condominiumize those rooms and sell them. And those units would have the 50 percent tax abatement for 30 years. Read the law. And let s be truthful, what Mulvihill enterprise has not ended up as a condo? Now, in my humble opinion, you are being disingenuous to say you might not approve other PILOTs after this one. First off, you and the amigos haven't said "no" to anything (except the public). Second, any developer would drag the town to court if he was denied what was given to others. I did appreciate hearing about developers and how they use tax appeals. Newspaper headlines should read $140M project coming to Vernon, but don't believe it because it will be a lot less after appeals. This would stop generating fantasy and pipe-dreams in the public's mind.

So you think PILOTS have been successful? N.J. State Controller A. Mathew Boxer is more cautious. In his 2010 report on the subject, he states, "Tax abatements should be used carefully and sparingly given the multitude of pitfalls, their far-reaching impact, and the reality that exemption from taxation is a departure from the normal allocation of tax obligations." He also urged "A thorough cost-benefit analysis of community impact should be undertaken before awarding the abatement." And finally, "In addition, these financial arrangements can create tax inequity and present opportunities for unfair favoritism or cronyism." Cronyism in Vernon. Oh, that would be shocking!

Next is your aggressive tone and attempt to humiliate my husband. Bullying is a serious problem and the state is writing laws regarding it. You ran for office citing the need for inclusion, but you govern Vernon likes it's Fight Club II. Anyone questioning your opinion is an obstructionist, you make fun of them on Facebook and Vernon Vibes, and your cheerleaders start mobbing the designated victim. Bullying is outlawed in school and Vernon government should do the same.

And finally, onto our farm which you like to talk about every other day. We pay close to $17,000 in property tax a year. Please, tell us what you pay. Dan and his brother preserved 265 acres and each received $356,464. If you sold a Vernon McMansion you'd make about that. It wasn't the thing to do if they wanted to make lots of money. But preserving a part of Vernon that hasn't changed much since the 1700s was important. Their parents had wanted to do it and the sons got it done. Farmland Preservation is a state program and no funding came from the Vernon open space fund.

As to farmland assessment, it is done in many states. It is a tax abatement on the land, and without it farming would practically stop since few could afford the taxes on their land. No farms, no food. Tax abatements are given for various reasons that society deems important. There are tax reductions for disabled veterans; for churches and schools and firehouses; or farmland assessment to name some examples. Right now, Vernon is faced with adding a new tax reduction the 30-year PILOT. It's implications are immense and long lasting. Before rushing to approve, the government should thoroughly investigate using independent experts, not the one provided by the developer.

Carol Gunn-Kadish
Vernon