New Brunswick Open Space Trust Fund – Nov 5 ballot initiative

October 31, 2019

In today’s digital age it is more important than ever to preserve places where children can run, play, and experience nature. A referendum measure on the Nov 5 ballot for New Brunswick residents – for the New Brunswick Open Space Trust Fund – allows residents to vote to preserve open space so as to improve our system of parks, trails, and natural areas in New Brunswick and throughout the watershed.

If approved by the voters, the Open Space Trust Fund would establish a levy on homeowners, costing the average homeowner $27 per year.

Here’s How the Open Space Trust Fund would be Used

•       Improving the water quality of rivers and streams;

•       Protecting the Raritan River;

•       Providing clean, safe parks;

•       Providing accessible parks; and

•       Repairing and improving existing parks.

Accountability Measures to Ensure Funds are Properly Spent

•       Moneys raised for the Open Space Trust Fund would only be used open space projects and nothing else.

•       Expenditures from the Open Space Trust Fund would be subject to a public audit every year.

•       There would be full public disclosure and review of all expenditures.

One Comment On “New Brunswick Open Space Trust Fund – Nov 5 ballot initiative”

  1. Timothy

    The municipality seeks to increase the Open Space, Recreation and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund annual tax levy from 4 to 7 cents per $100 of total township equalized real property valuation. Six cents will be dedicated to acquisition purposes, while one cent will go to development purposes. The municipality seeks to increase the use of Open Space Trust Fund monies from 20 to 100 percent to acquire lands for recreation and conservation or farmland or historic preservation, the development (but not maintenance) of any lands or properties included in the Recreation and Open Space Inventory or payment of debt service issued or incurred for any of these purposes. 

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