Bill Would Put $200M Open-Space Bond Issue on November 2014 Ballot

The lame-duck legislative session is likely to try to finance preservation of open space, farmland, and historic treasures, but the effort may not win plaudits from some parts of the environmental community.

In a bill to be introduced by Assemblywoman Grace Spencer (D-Essex), the measure would ask voters to approve a $200 million bond issue next November. Associated Press first reported the proposal, talked about at the annual convention of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities in Atlantic City last week.

If approved, the bill would provide a stopgap measure to fund New Jersey’s open-space preservation program, which is virtually out of money. But it also means open-space advocates would once again be unsuccessful in their efforts to convince the Legislature and governor’s office to enact a stable source of funding for the issue.

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