Residents will be asked to renew open space tax

It has been a decade since residents passed a referendum establishing an Old Bridge Township open space fund, but now the community will have to decide whether the fund is worth keeping.

Officials discussed the possible extension of an open space tax, which has contributed to the preservation of several open space, farmland and historic properties, at a Feb. 8 council meeting.

“There was a sunset provision on the original ordinance, and we were to rally the town around it for 10 years before we brought it forward again,” Mayor Jim Phillips said. “So far, I think it’s been very successful, and now is the time to vote on it in order for the fund to continue.”

The open space fund was created in November 2000 following a township-wide survey in which 94 percent of responding residents were strongly in favor of preserving open space and 84 percent supported a stable funding source. Due to the survey results, the Open Space Committee recommended that the council hold a referendum that would establish an open space trust. Residents passed the referendum by a vote of 9,717 to 6,308.

An ordinance had to be approved in response to the passage of the referendum, thus establishing an open space fund via an annual tax rate of 2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. This levy was instituted as a separate fund, not associated with the municipal tax rate.

In Old Bridge, the average assessed value of a home was between $140,000 and $150,000 as of 2000. Therefore, the 2-cent tax rate cost the average homeowner approximately $30 per year. Phillips said the average yearly cost has only slightly varied over the years.

The open space tax raised $600,000 per year, and over the course of 10 years the township has raised $6 million to be used for the purchase of open space.

The referendum stipulated that the money would be used strictly for the preservation of open space, farmland or historic properties, and the payment of debt involved in such purposes. Funds could also be used to acquire development rights to a given property.

The township fund has accounted for 20 percent of the money available for open space preservation. With such a trust established, Old Bridge has been able to access state, federal and private money, providing the additional 80 percent in preservation funds.

“The best thing that this fund has done for us is attract other sources of money,” Phillips said. “Without a stable fund, we weren’t able to put up any money that the state could match, but with it, there has been so much more available for us.”

Phillips said the open space fund has contributed to every acquisition in the past 10 years, including major preservation projects like Cedar Ridge and Veterans Park and the possible Cottrell Farm purchase.

“Certain projects have attracted more loans and grants than others, but most of our open space funds go toward expanding our park system,” Phillips said.

According to Phillips, the reintroduction of the referendum is still in the early stages, since it will not be voted on until the November election. However, he said the township will launch an educational campaign about the fund, including a complete report of its impact on open space and the community. Open Space Committee memberAnnMiller will be in charge of the campaign, he said.

“Education is part of the process,” Phillips said. “It will show what we’ve done and advocate for the rededication of funds.”

While residents have historically expressed support for open space funding, and adamant opposition toward overdevelopment, the current economy may have an effect on whether the referendum will be passed again.

“Under normal economic times, referendums are well received — especially this referendum,” Phillips said. “We might be in the worst of economic times, but residents need to realize that it won’t always be like this.”

Township Council President G. Kevin Calogera, who also sits on the Open Space Committee, noted that the recession actually has a positive impact on open space acquisi- tion, and that passing this referendum once again would be beneficial to the community.

“This is very much the right thing to do. It’s a very minimal amount and it helps create this fund,” Calogera said. “With the price of property depressed, this is the best time to buy and acquire, but if you don’t have a fund, you can’t do it.”

Calogera and Phillips confirmed that there will be several hearings and discussions about the extension of the open space tax in upcoming months. They noted that the fund is favored by members of the council and has been supported by residents in the past.

“Residents believe very strongly in preservation,” Calogera said. “So, hopefully, there will be a steady amount voting in favor of the program. It’s best for the township.”