We would like clarify apparent misunderstandings of, and rectify misstatements made by others regarding our offer to the Sullivan West School Board (SWSB) for the Narrowsburg School building and the nearby 14 acre parcel.

First, the SWSB best-and-final bid request required bidders to submit one offer for both parcels. In response to the SWSB request, we bid $742,000 for the Narrowsburg School and the nearby 14-acre ball field lot. We were not present for the submission of the bids or the opening of the bid envelopes, but will have faith in the integrity of the SWSB bidding process, assume all was conducted in a fair manner, and assume no favoritism was shown, and no advantage provided to either party by any members of SWSB.

Second, we demonstrated to the SWSB that we were in a position to pay all cash. While we did indicate our intention to secure a mortgage on the property, our offer was not contingent on obtaining a mortgage. If this was a factor in their decision, the SWSB could have requested a clarification. We can only assume that this was not a factor and that the SWSB acted on one factor only, and that was the price.

Since we are not the party now in negotiations with SWSB to execute a sales contract, we have put on hold our plans for the development of the school while the SWSB and the winning bid party, the Butos, proceed.

As fourth-generation property owners in the town of Tusten, we share the concerns of our fellow town residents about the long-term negative economic impact of the SWSB decision to accept the Butos’ offer. While the introduction of the school building to the tax rolls will bring in a new stream of tax revenue, there may also be a reduction of taxes that will more than offset the increase. Narrowsburg is regarded as the quaintest municipality in the Upper Delaware Valley. A drug and alcohol (D&A) facility in the center of town will lead to a reduction of property values particularly in the hamlet, and generally throughout the town, likely leading to certiorari claims for tax reductions, eroding both the town and the school district tax base. Other families have already stated that they would move away, because they would not want to have their children walk past or play near a D&A facility. Merchants have indicated that if the D&A facility is allowed into the hamlet, they would move their business out. This type of deterioration will accelerate the reduction of the tax base through a downward spiral of ever fewer businesses and families, declining property values, and diminishment of economic vitality, with higher property taxes on those who remain behind. Further, a D&A treatment facility will also require more municipal services (water, sewer, law enforcement, etc.) than the school required, creating increased municipal expenses, and therefore increased property taxes for the town’s property owners.

We wish the Butos the best in their efforts to create a high-end residential D&A treatment facility in the Town of Tusten. However, we request they consider the effect such a facility will have on many Narrowsburg families and businesses if executed in the Narrowsburg School building, and conclude that there are more suitable locations within the town, where they can provide a pastoral setting to conduct their business, without negatively impacting their neighbors and community.

The residents and business people of Narrowsburg should speak out and voice their concerns. They should not allow themselves to be influenced by statements meant to induce fear, such as “the Buto offer must be accepted or the town will suffer the loss of some great windfall of tax revenue.” Nor should they buy into empty arguments, such as “endorse the Buto offer or the Butos will leave.” Most Tusten residents and businesses seek a win-win situation, wherein the D&A treatment facility can be created within the Town of Tusten, but in a more appropriate setting, the school can be otherwise utilized in a manner that positively impacts its residents and businesses, and the town’s tax base is stable and growing. Let’s get there.