East End residents propose special tax for beach front homeowners

Some East End homeowners are asking to be taxed more, and it's a request that's pitting neighbors against neighbors. Beach front property owners in the upscale communities of Bridgehampton and Sagaponack

News 12 Staff

Aug 24, 2012, 9:52 PM

Updated 4,397 days ago

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Some East End homeowners are asking to be taxed more, and it's a request that's pitting neighbors against neighbors. Beach front property owners in the upscale communities of Bridgehampton and Sagaponack want to restore their beaches, which have been cut dangerously short by years of storms and erosion. Replenishing the sand will cost $25 million, and some neighbors want to form a special taxing district to finance the project. Each beach front property owner would be charged up to $100,000 a year for the next 10 years. The Town of Southhampton would also be asked to kick in 10 percent. Some homeowners say they're against paying for sand replenishment at beaches that all Southampton residents use, while others say it's important to act now before a major storm sweeps away even more of the shoreline. A referendum among beach front homeowners will likely be held in November. If approved, the beach replenishment work will begin in January.