Clarkstown voters will soon weigh creating a town preservation fund on a future November ballot after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that would let the town tack on a real estate transfer tax on property purchases to be used to buy sensitive properties.
Hochul, a Democrat, signed the Clarkstown Community Preservation Act on July 31. The legislation sponsored by state Sen. Bill Weber, R-Montebello, and Assemblyman Patrick Carroll, D-Bardonia, passed this session.
"This is an important chance for our town to decide whether to invest in protecting open space and upholding the unique character of the Clarkstown community,” said Hoehmann, a Republican.
When will voters weigh in?
The referendum won't be on the Nov. 3 ballot, according to Clarkstown officials, because the legislation
wasn’t signed in time to satisfy various legal requirements.
Town officials anticipate putting the referendum on the November 2027 ballot. It would ask: "Shall the Clarkstown Preservation Fund be established?"
"The next step is to give Clarkstown residents the opportunity to make their voices heard through a public referendum at a future date," he said in a statement.
Hoehmann had said previously that the fund would mean money was available for key land preservation rather than the town relying on taking out bonds. "There's lots of properties in town we want to preserve," he added.
Who would pay how much to fill fund?
The Clarkstown Preservation Act would be funded by a real estate transfer tax that would tack on 0.75% of a property's sale price, exempting the tax from the first $100,000 of the sale price, or $50,000 for vacant properties.
Clarkstown officials have estimated the fee would be around $4,500 for the purchaser of a single-family home sold at the town's median price of $700,00.
Orangetown voters are weighing a similar preservation fund.
Orangetown's legislation would include charging property purchasers a one-time 0.3% real estate transfer tax to feed a Community Land Preservation Fund.
Orangetown's referendum will be on the Nov. 3 ballot, which will also include the closely watched election for the 17th District seat in U.S. House of Representatives, New York State Senate and New York State Assembly seats.
Warwick voters approved a fund similar to Clarkstown's proposal in 2006.
Steps to protect 'most vital lands'
The funds collected for the preservation fund would go into Clarkstown's Purchasing Development Rights program.
The "locked-box" funding, as Hoehman has called it, would allow land purchases for certain purposes, including preservation of open space, historic landmarks, critical agriculture and protection of water resources.
Chris Chapman, project manager for the Orange County Land Trust, lauded the town's efforts.
“We have seen how these funds empower local residents to proactively protect their community’s most vital lands," Chapman said, "and we look forward to seeing how this initiative will benefit Clarkstown.”
Nancy Cutler covers People & Policy. Reach her at ncutler@lohud.com; follow her on X, Bluesky and Instagram at @nancyrockland.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Hochul OKs Clarkstown land fund. See when voters will weigh in
