The special town meeting was called by a citizen's petition asking voters to approve a home rule that would switch the way property is assessed to encourage development. The program would have had to be approved by the state Legislature. 

 

It would excluded the value of buildings from an assessed piece of property thus encouraging residents to build and improve upon their land. 

 

"You need to be able to reward upkeep of buildings," said Joshua Vincent, CEO of the Center for the Study of Economics, a Philadelphia non-profit dedicated to the tax program.

 

Land Value Taxation has been adopted in several Pennsylvania communities and in other countries. Resident Albert Hartheimer rallied 220 signatures in an attempt to bring the program to Lanesborough. But the plan was ultimately defeated by a large margin.

 

Vincent is a relative of Hartheimer and represented him at the meeting. He said the center researched every piece of property in town and most of the homeowners' tax bills would decrease. Those who own open land would likely sell it or build on it, increasing the number of residents sharing the tax burden. Additionally, those dollars saved would go back into the local economy.

 

When implemented the switch would generate the same amount of revenue to town coffers, he said,  and protected agricultural land would be excluded.

 

The crowd of 315, the largest meeting many in town could remember, including any annual town meetings, said they didn't want any extra development and they weren't going to become the first town in New England to adopt a tax proposal that encourages it.

 

"I'm happy to pay the taxes because I got the house I wanted in the location I wanted ... a rural location," resident Robert Ericson said, to cheers from the crowded gymnasium.

 

Resident Eileen Walter said she moved out of Pittsfield because there were too many people and she wanted the space. She didn't support the proposal because she doesn't want to "have to be concerned about people selling drugs or having guns" right near her. 

 

Butch Garrity said he could see how the program would help a city but "it doesn't work here," adding that he moved to Lanesborough for the "quality of life."

 

"People love open space. They value open space," Berkshire Mall General Manager Joseph Scelsi said. "This basically encourages someone to build the largest house on the smallest piece of property. This doesn't value land at all. It values buildings."

 

Joshua Vincent, CEO for the Center for the Study of Economics, answered questions about the proposal.

Scelsi had even more reason to be against it because while most residents would see their property tax decrease, the mall's taxes would jump by about $1 million — the "one very significant" jump Vincent found in his study. While proponents say the mall would recoup some of its lose by increased sales, Scelsi said the mall would close with the proposal.

 

Hartheimer's proposal didn't go completely unsupported. Resident Kevin Young countered fears of increased density by saying that zoning bylaws will prohibit excessive growth. In the last decade, taxes have continually increased, Young said, so a decrease would be welcomed.

 

"I like it fine here but if I can get some tax relief and spend it at the mall, I'd be a happy guy," Young said.

 

After about 45 minutes of debate, the question was called and the vote overwhelming defeated the option. But the turnout came as a surprise to town officials, who previously voiced concern that a low turnout could allow the measure to pass. A special town meeting earlier this year saw only 10 residents attend.

 

The meeting was delayed about a half hour because the room at Lanesborough Elementary School that was set up for the meeting quickly filled. The number of people in the room exceeded fire code and there was a still a line down the hallway. Town officials moved the entire set up into the gym and the residents all picked up their chairs and shuttled down the hall to the larger room. There are 2,210 registered voters in Lanesborough.

 

In other business, voters also approved $62,000 in budget transfers from free cash. The transfers include $4,000 to cover additional landfill monitoring required by the state, $8,000 for snow plowing because of the difficult winter, $10,000 back to reserves that had been pulled out for a wheelchair ramp installation that the town got it at a lower cost and an increase of $40,000 so the Department of Public Works could pave every town parking lot.