The rural quality of the landscape and wealth of natural and recreational resources are among the Town of Chesterfield’s prize assets.There are concerns, however, among some town officials about the impacts of additional land conservation and the implications for municipal fiscal health. Conserved land owned by nonprofit organizations and government agencies is typically property tax exempt.
Town officials are especially concerned about additional land conservation proposed by the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Final Conservation Plan. A summary accounting by the Chesterfield Tax Collector based on the Conte Refuge Plan proposal to acquire some 150 parcels in Chesterfield indicates a potential revenue loss in current dollars of about $260,000.
