Budget Referendum and Arden Board of Assessors Election 2009
Assessors Election and Budget Referendum Results: Click here to see who was elected and by what margin each item in the budget was approved. 11/13/2009
Here are short statements from many of the 14 candidates running for 7 seats on the Arden Board of Assessors.
Walter Borders
The village is grappling with the 21st century. Housing demands, multi-generational housing, and New Castle County pressure the village in unexpected ways. The desire for larger homes and smaller homes becomes more significant. Our original houses are aging and require repair. These examples will bring new costs to the village that should be borne equally. It is time for each household to pay equally for trash pickup and other services. Some pay many times more for the same service. This would be a step toward fairness. Our decades old system of “community standard of living” needs adjustment for our times.
Brooke Bovard
I’m Brooke, mother of 5 and both a native and long-time Arden resident. Most of you have seen me working on something around here. I’ve learned a lot during my terms on the Board of Assessors, and remain committed to serving there as part of protecting this community as the special place it is. The Ardens have pressures from development, which manifest partly as taxes, and differences in outlook. As adults and neighbors we ought to be able to balance these. Please elect Assessors who have shown the ability to cooperate, even though disagreeing. It’s important. Look at the records of people who have served on the board. I don't believe we should be operating solely on a basis of "majority rules," but try to achieve real consensus on issues that affect all of us. And come to the meetings. We need to hear from everyone.
Alton Dahl
I support the traditional method of assessing leasehold land value using formulas to approximate market values. The formulas have been refined many times to account for the main factors affecting market value – size, location and privileges. I also support the traditional method for calculating the total land rent to be collected based on projections of the costs of taxes, operation of the Trust, Village budgets and the maintenance of an adequate "prudent reserve." I believe that change from the traditional methods should be made only on the basis of good market data showing that our process no longer approximates market values.
Jeffrey Politis
Over my 10 years in Arden, I have learned that the most important job of an Assessor is to provide consistency and fairness.
Gary E. Quinton
I will solemnly affirm that I will faithfully perform and discharge my duties as Assessor of Arden to the best of my ability, and that I will as nearly as possible assess the full rental value of Arden lands as required by the Deed of Trust and Lease of Arden. I believe community costs amongst all leaseholds should be fairly shared, with consideration that leasehold sizes do not necessarily mean more or less desirability.
Edward Rohrbach
As a resident of Arden since 1983, I have witnessed many debates regarding the land rent system. I am committed, as much as possible, to assessing the land rents according to the actual value of the individual lots independent of the man-made improvements, as required by the original charter. In my judgment, this is effected primarily by zoning restrictions, location, and lot size. I believe these factors should be the basis of land valuation.
Larry C. Walker
When I was an Assessor I supported the concept of the "Community Standard of Living" and the factors that have been used over the past decades to set land rents. I remain concerned about the continuing reduction in the “prudent reserve,” for this limits the town in both long range planning, as well as making major short-term need large expenditures. I would work to increase the prudent reserve, which would require slightly higher land rents. I would advocate increasing the rate for the A factor, and would want to revisit the factor for an extra domicile, since now anyone in Arden can legally create an extra domicile; an additional domicile is no longer a grandfathered privilege, giving a leaseholder a special economic advantage. I have been an Arden resident for 27 years, and have been active in town government, serving as Town Secretary, Playground Committee chair, past Assessor, and member of the Budget Committee.
Tom Wheeler
I came here in 1995 because my wife woke up in a dream and said we have to move to Arden. I’ve been the treasurer of the Arden Craft Shop Museum, and the swim team, and temporarily for the Arden Club, as well as helping rebuild the Moonlight Theater, serving on the BWVC committee, working with Shakespeare and the Ardensingers, and have been on the Board of the AB&L for 10 years. We love Arden. I will vote a continuation of the current system unless strong reason and considerable village sentiment are demonstrated for change. Thank you for your interest and support.
Others
Pete Compo and Liz Resko preferred not to make statements.
Denis O’Regan, Bill Theis, David Gerbec and Barbara Threefoot had not responded by Oct 16.
Prepared by Cecilia Vore, chair, Arden Registration Committee, 10/16/2009
