Politics & Government

Township Eyes New Uses for Open Space Funds

Township Committee may ask voters to weigh in on freeing monies in open space trust fund.

With nearly 30 percent of Hillsborough's undeveloped land already locked up from development in the open space preservation program, township officials may ask residents to approve new uses of the money collected in the open space trust fund.

The Township Committee introduced an ordinance at Tuesday's meeting which, if approved, will place a referendum on the November ballot to change the permitted uses of money collected by the open space tax, currently at 2.8 cents per $100 of assessed value.

"In essence, what we're going about is to utilize a portion of the open space fund to help develop some of that open space that's already been acquired," Mayor Frank DelCore said. 

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He said the proposed ballot question would ask to use not more than 20 percent of the fund for improvement of parks, conservation and general open space purposes.

Deputy Mayor Doug Tomson said he supported the ballot initiative and added he hoped many residents would, too. He said the funding could be used to "enhance" passive and active recreational uses of preserved land.

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"I think the important thing to remember is that we'll be able to use some of this land that we've purchased," he said.

The ballot question contained in the ordinance would read: "Shall the Township Committee of the Township of Hillsborough modify and expand the uses and purposes of the Open Space Trust Fund to allow for not more than 20 percent of the Open Space Trust Fund tax collected in any one year to be utilized for the development and, or improvement of Park and recreational Facilities that are located on property within the Open Space and Park inventory for recreation, conservation and general open space purposes?"

A public hearing on the ordinance will be held July 23, and if passed, the committee members said a study to evaluate recreational needs on open space and park properties will be undertaken to prioritize any projects. 


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