Long-term open space funding in NJ sought
TRENTON, N.J.—With New Jersey's emergency open space acquisition fund nearly drained, environmentalists urged the governor and Legislature Tuesday to approve a long-term solution to fund land buys.
A coalition of environmental groups called on Gov. Jon S. Corzine to support a water tax to replenish the fund, or to dedicate a portion of existing sales tax revenues for the acquisition of open space, farmland and historic sites.
But, after signing a $32.9 billion state budget on Monday, the governor said he'd wait until the fall to address land preservation.
"It is clear we need to invest in protecting the limited open space we have in this state," Corzine said. "The funding requirements that we have with regard to infrastructure, transportation, open space I think have to be addressed on a longer term financial plan, and we intend to come with that. I'm just not prepared to talk about it today."
Voters approved an emergency one-year bond measure last November to resuscitate the Garden State Preservation Trust, which had run out of money. However, come fall, that $200 million in emergency funds will all have been allocated toward land buys throughout New Jersey, leaving no money for new projects.
New Jersey Sierra Club executive director Jeff Tittel said the lack of funds precludes the state from taking advantage of the current slump in the real estate market.
"Land will never get cheaper in New Jersey," said Tittel. "If we don't invest now, it means bigger burdens for taxpayers down the road especially if we lose those projects to development."
The state's been in a similar situation before. Tittel said it could have bought the 2,000-acre Sterling Forest for $2 million in 1998. By the time Passaic County bought the property four years later, the price had jumped to $9.8 million.
The coalition of environmental groups called Keep It Green advocates a water user fee, which would cost the average homeowner about $32 a year and would generate $150 million a year.
Republicans were quick to pan the water tax plan, which has been formally proposed as a bill sponsored by state Sen. Bob Smith.
Sen. Christopher Bateman, R-Somerset, said he'd rather cut from the "bloated" state budget than apply an additional tax.
"Raising taxes of any kind should be an absolute last resort, and we are not in desperate need of extra funds for open space," Bateman said. "Higher water taxes should be imposed only when necessary to ensure a safe and abundant water supply."
Another possible solution is to dedicate a portion of the existing sales tax to open space, generating $175 million a year.
A third option is to return to voters, asking them to approve an $800 million bond to fund open space buys for four years.
Voters have consistently approved open space bond referendums, even in tough economic times, though lawmakers might hesitate to seek more state debt.
Voters approved the $200 million referendum in November while rejecting bonding for stem cell research and failing to approve a measure to dedicate a portion of the sales tax to property tax relief.
