Oxford Could Lose Big Financially if a New State Bill is Approved

Oxford First Selectman George R. Temple expressed concern last week over a proposed Senate bill that would require cities and towns to establish new classifications for golf courses.

The bill SB970 would change the classification of golf courses to that of open space, which would result in a reduction of the assessment of the land.

Temple in a prepared statement said the bill is a concern to the town because it currently has the Oxford Greens Golf Course on Country Club Drive that would be affected if the bill is passed.

Oxford Town Assessor Eva Lintzner said the land for the golf course is currently assessed at $1.1 million and the assessment could be cut more than half if it is classified as open space.

Temple said he is opposed to the bill because it would hurt the taxpayers. He attended a hearing on Friday (2-27) before the General Assembly’s Planning and Development Committee.

At the hearing Temple said, according to a prepared statement that, “As the First Selectman of the Town of Oxford, I would like to express my opposition to this bill. Oxford has an 18 hole golf course located as part of an over 55 community. It is a public course which is located centrally in that community.

“In fact, one of the conditions of approval for that development was that the golf course be maintained as a golf course. As a golfer, I have played that course on several occasions. Like most golf Courses, it is surrounded by many high end housing units. These housing units were sold because of the proximity to a golf course not the availability of open space,’’ he said.

Temple said he is opposed to a bill that would require municipalities to adopt a new assessment classification for golf courses and said as proposed, it appears that the bill would change assessment value from the current value to that of open space land.

Currently the land at Oxford Greens is assessed at $1,158,080. If the land was classified as open space, the assessment would be greatly reduced and the corresponding taxes would be reduced by the same percentage. He said the owners of the golf course would see a financial windfall and their good fortune would be borne on the backs of the municipal taxpayer.

“I have played golf on most of the courses in Connecticut and I don’t understand why anyone would feel that they are conducive to open space. The sand traps. Water hazards and cart paths are not compatible with a natural environment. If a golf course is allowed to go fallow, it is more of an eye sore than a natural wonder,’’ he said.

Temple said, Oxford, like most towns in Connecticut is proud of its record in the preservation of open space. Right now the town owns 16 percent of all the land in Oxford. This does not include the land managed by the Oxford Land Trust. He said the town recently received a bequest for one million dollars that is ear marked to purchase more open space land.

“We will continue to add on to our total open space. We really don’t need your help in this area, ’he told the committee, according to a prepared statement.

“I oppose enactment of this bill. I don’t think it serves any meaningful public purpose and will only result in very rich people getting richer at the expense of the municipal taxpayer,’’ said Temple.