On November 3rd, New Jersey voters will be asked to approve Public Question # 1, a new $400 million Green Acres Bond Act which will continue the State's investment in preserving clean water, working farms, natural areas, parks and historic sites.   The timing couldn't be more urgent.   Existing State funds provided by previous bond acts and the Garden State Preservation Trust have all been exhausted.  Without approval of this new funding by voters, the state's open space, farmland and historic preservation efforts will grind to a halt.  And, since each of our 21 counties and more than 230 of our 566 municipalities have their own dedicated open space funds that rely on state matching dollars, most local preservation efforts will be also severely hampered. 

New Jersey voters have approved every Public Question concerning open space and farmland preservation that has been proposed since the inception of the popular Green Acres program in 1961.  But even some longtime supporters of the program are having some doubts this time around about the public's willingness to continue to approve new funds during the current economic downturn. 

It is true that the State of New Jersey is carrying a lot of debt these days, and that any new spending  must be carefully weighed to insure that it is responsible and a good investment of public dollars.  In this context, the proposed new $400 million bond issue, which will cost an estimated $10 annually per household over the next few decades, must be thoughtfully evaluated.

And what return would New Jerseyans get from this additional investment of public tax dollars?   A recent study based on an NJ DEP report found that every $1 invested through the bond measure would return $10 in value, in the form of ecosystem services (such as water purification, waste treatment and flood mitigation), natural goods (such as fish and farm products), and outdoor recreation activities across the entire state.  The bond act will also create jobs restoring historic sites and natural areas, and building parks.

We also know that open space and farmland preservation provides many other economic benefits.  Numerous studies have shown that preserved parkland and farmland help to avoid new public costs for schools, roads, police and fire protection, as well as a myriad of other services, and these avoided costs help to stabilize local property taxes.  Other studies have shown that properties located near preserved areas appreciate in value at a higher rate, and that preserved open space can stimulate redevelopment, particularly in urban areas and older suburbs.   And use of our preserved open areas by sportsmen, birders, hikers and a variety of other ecotourists and agritourists who spend considerable sums on their recreation helps many small businesses and boosts local economies throughout the state.

The fact that both land prices and interest rates are low right now also makes this an excellent time to be purchasing additional land and development easements, especially given the fact that the Garden State is predicted to be the first state in the nation that reaches complete build-out sometime in the next generation.  Key tracts not purchased in the next few years may never be available again, and certainly not at the bargain prices being asked in today's market.
 
In addition to these economic benefits, preserving additional open space and farmland also provides clear environmental benefits.  Preserved areas provide help to keep our air and water clean, mitigate the effects of global warming by sequestering carbon, provide habitat for wildlife, and generally help preserve and enhance the quality of our lives.

Some voters understandably wonder if our politicians can be trusted to honestly administer millions in new funding for preservation.  Fortunately, Public Question #1 also requires full public disclosure of all spending on preservation projects, and there is citizen oversight through the Garden State Preservation Trust, which must approve all projects before funds are appropriated by the Legislature.

New Jerseyans have made a huge investment in preserving our open spaces and farmland over the course of the last 50 years, but the job is not yet quite done.  Many keys tracts of open space and farmland still need to be preserved, and finishing the job by preserving these remaining tracts will only enhance the value of our past investments connecting and enlarging existing parkland, and by helping to preserve a critical mass of farmland sufficient to retain farming as a viable industry here in the Garden State.   

Viewed in this context, approving Public Question # 1 seems like a very wise investment, and it appears likely that the costs of stopping the preservation effort are substantially higher than the cost of staying the course.   Staying the course means that we can leave a legacy of clean water, parks, natural areas and wildlife, local farms and preserved historic sites to our children and grandchildren.

Here at Conservation Resources, we know from our work on behalf of the entire conservation community that the job is not yet done.  We are also keenly aware that public funds which flow to conservation through the Green Acres and Farmland Preservation programs are essential to most projects, and that preservation efforts will simply grind to a halt if these funds are not renewed. For all of the reasons discussed above, I hope that you will join me in staying the course by voting "YES" on Public Question # 1 on November 3rd.