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Committee discusses funding approaches for acquisitions; notes limited local fund
Summary
Members discussed the town's past practice of relying on outside partners and one‑off fundraising for acquisitions, referenced an approximately $83,000 maintenance fund balance, and revisited the idea of a conveyance‑tax surcharge to build a dedicated acquisition fund.
Simsbury Open Space Committee members spent an extended portion of the April 2 meeting discussing how the town pays for land acquisition and whether the town should set aside a regular fund for acquisitions rather than relying on ad‑hoc measures and outside partners.
Kelly (Open Space Committee member) and others said the town has been “reactive,” relying at times on partner organizations (including the land trust and outside funders such as The Trust for Public Land) to close on large purchases. Committee members said that approach can leave the town without funds to buy smaller parcels that would connect existing open space.
Committee members referenced an open space maintenance fund balance of roughly $83,000 as a point of context, but said that amount is not sufficient for larger purchases and may not equal a dedicated acquisition fund. Members discussed a previously proposed conveyance‑tax surcharge (a percentage added to the conveyance tax paid by buyers at closing) as a potential way to create a long‑term acquisition resource; the proposal had met resistance from some local realtors when previously considered and did not pass.
Members cited Glastonbury and other communities that set aside regular acquisition funds, noting those towns can act quickly when parcels that meet acquisition criteria become available. Committee members also noted the town manager had indicated the town might take some parcels for back taxes in the future, which could present acquisition opportunities, and asked staff to follow up.
Committee members agreed that the Open Space Committee maintains an acquisition criteria checklist on the Open Space website and suggested using that checklist to evaluate candidate parcels and prioritize outreach or fundraising when an opportunity arises. The committee asked staff to investigate current fund balances and reporting to clarify whether maintenance and acquisition monies are in the same account and to return with any available figures.
