Poll: Open Space Question Looks Good

by: Hopeful

Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:52:59 AM EDT

Yesterday's FDU poll matching up Corzine and Christie got lots of attention, but I'm also interested in today's release from FDU PublicMind:

A majority of likely voters (56%) say they approve of this year's public question: issuing $400 million in bonds to make land purchases to conserve open space. Just 31% say they disapprove of the bond issue and 13% say they are not sure. The bond issue gains approval by a similar margin (57-32) among just those who say they always vote on bond issues.

The open space question has had a pretty low profile this year, but I've been wondering if voters would reject any borrowing in these tough times. I'm glad to see it's looking good for now.

The release also has info about plans to "Vote By Mail" -- I dropped my application in the mail yesterday -- but it seems to me we can just see how the statistics work out afterwards. They say "just 8% of voters say they're somewhat or very likely to vote by mail" and another 10% say it's possible but not very likely.

Hopeful :: Poll: Open Space Question Looks Good

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Poll: Open Space Question Looks Good | 2 comments

Open Space (4.00 / 1)

Some of the communities who might be able to acquire open space lands are not happy with the bond referendum.

Specifically, West Milford, Ringwood and Kinnelon, whose borders encompass "watershed" lands, mostly owned by Newark, are opposed to the referendum. They fear that the State will purchase the watershed property and convert it to "Open Space," and thus untaxable.

While this may sound selfish from an environmental perspective, they have a point. West Milford, for example, is wholly within the Highlands non-development terrain. Since most of its land cannot be developed and a large bulk of it is Newark watershed property, the taxpayers struggle with higher than necessary property taxes. The township has lost costly tax valuation cases against Newark with regard to the watershed property. It has asked, in vain, for the State to institute a fee for
the water it supplies to other communities, a part of which would revert back to the township.

Thus, West Milford and other towns want to be an environmental oasis, but find that they cannot afford to. Not only does the State have to find a steady stream of money to fund Open Space projects, it needs to find a method to reimburse towns for the loss of revenue for the non-taxable lands acquired through those purchases.

http://www.northjersey.com/new...

I just read today that the State purchased 1200 acres from a Catholic owned property in Jefferson Township that used to be a seminary and, until now, was used as a retreat. One reason was that the Catholic community could no longer pay its property taxes. Now, no one will be paying them. So, its good for the environment and lousy for the town. There has to be a better way to do this.

(I can't locate a link for the story.)

by: SmartyJones @ Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 22:01:19 PM UTC

here's a link (0.00 / 0)

http://www.nj.com/news/local/i...

There's no doubt that heavy reliance on property taxes has a lot of problems and something has to be done.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

by: Hopeful @ Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 22:10:06 PM UTC

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