As part of a trade with the developers of Oakwood Commons, a town road was to be exchanged for $100,000 and a 4000 square foot Seniors Center on Route 9 and Neptune Road. The Developers estimated the “target” rentals would be about $18 per square foot but the rate for the Seniors Center was to be $1 per square foot for a period of 10 years.
Instead the Town Republican Councilmen accepted a “donation” of $200,000 from the Developers to facilitate the construction of a 1000 square foot addition and renovations to the White House situated next to Town Hall. The Town must now use at least $300,000 of its Recreation Fund to finance the balance of the construction costs that will be negotiated with and by the Developers.
Coincidentally, the Town Republicans granted these same Developers, contributors to the Town Republican Party, a 20 year property tax exemption starting at 90%. Plus the Developers will have increased revenues of approximately $700,000 on the space not occupied by the Seniors Center.
Given these considerations and the increasingly difficult tax burdens placed on residents, the Town Board should have held the Developers accountable for the total cost of construction.
Seniors had been promised a center for many years and it appears the Town of Poughkeepsie Republican Councilmen sold out taxpayers and the Town coffers to get it.