Bergen
Voters
Extend
Open
Space,
Recreation,
Farmland
&
Historic
Preservation
Trust
Fund
What
is the issue? On November 4, 2003, the residents
of Bergen County voted to approve a referendum question that
permits county government to collect funds for open space
preservation, recreational improvements, and farmland and
historic preservation.
How is it funded? The Bergen County Open
Space, Recreation, Farmland & Historic Trust Fund is funded
by a dedicated tax of one cent ($0.01) of the total County
equalized real property valuation. At this maximum rate, property
owners would annually be contributing $10.00 to the Trust
Fund per $100,000 of assessed value.
Didn’t
the
County
already
have
a
Trust
Fund?
Yes.
In
November
1998,
Bergen
County
voters
approved
the
establishment
of
a
stable
source
of
county
funding
for
to
acquire
open
space,
develop
park
and
recreation
facilities,
and
preserve
farmland
and
historic
sites.
The
1998
Trust
Fund
distributed
about
$40
million
to
all
elements
of
the
program
during
the
five-year
voter
authorization
period.
Are
there
any
changes
in
the
new
Trust
Fund?
Yes.
There
are
a
number
of
changes.
First,
the
2003
voter
referendum
eliminates
the
five-year
sunset
provision
and
makes
the
program
permanent
-
thus
eliminating
the
need
for
a
referendum
every
five
years.
Second,
the
Trust
Fund
rate
has
been
increased
from
one-half
($.005)
cents
per
$100.00
of
total
County
equalized
real
property
valuation
to
a
maximum
rate
of
one
($0.01)
cents
per
$100.00
of
total
County
equalized
real
property
valuations.
With
this
increased
rate,
the
$20
million
of
dedicated
County
bond
funding
authorized
in
1998
will
be
eliminated.
Lastly,
70%
of
the
funds
raised
will
be
used
to
acquire
land,
improve
county
recreation
facilities,
and
preserve
farmland
and
historic
areas
throughout
Bergen
County.
The
remaining
30%
will
assist
municipalities
to
acquire
open
space
and
improve
outdoor
recreation/conservation
facilities.
What
are
Bergen
County’s
needs?
Over
the
years,
Bergen
County
has
seen
a
decline
in
the
amount
of
available
open
space.
From
1982
to
1988,
the
amount
of
privately
owned
open
land
fell
from
12
percent
of
the
County’s
land
area
to
6.8
percent,
and
is
now
estimated
to
be
less
than
4
percent.
The
decline
in
the
amount
of
open
space
has
been
accompanied
by
an
increasing
demand
for
high-quality
open
spaces
to
serve
various
functions
ranging
from
large-scale
public
spaces
such
as
the
Saddle
River
County
Park
to
a
variety
of
smaller
public
spaces
such
as
municipal
parks
and
playing
fields.
The
County
also
wishes
to
protect
its
remaining
agricultural
properties
and
preserve
its
historical
landmarks.
Can
this
fund
be
supplemented
with
funds
from
other
sources?
Yes.
Such
dedicated
trust
funds
create
leveraging
power
for
municipal
governments.
Communities
whose
voters
have
approved
open
space
trust
funds
and
which
have
state-approved
open
space
plans
become
eligible
for
fast-track
approval
and
matching
grants
from
the
New
Jersey
Garden
State
Preservation
Trust
Fund.
Have
other
communities
established
such
funds?
Yes.
Thus
far,
187
communities
and
20
counties
have
established
Trust
Fund
programs.
This
includes
15
Bergen
County
municipalities
and
the
County
of
Bergen.
