Open Space Ballot Question Approved
A Senate committee has signed off on legislation that would let voters decide whether to dedicate a fraction of sales tax revenues to funding land preservation.
Land use experts and preservationists voiced support for putting the question to voters this November before the panel approved the measure 4-1 on Monday.
If approved by voters, the allocation would generate about $200 million a year for the next 30 years.
The lone dissenting vote, Sen. Jennifer Beck of Monmouth County, says she's concerned other state-funded programs would suffer in a down economy.
The legislation would dedicate one-thirty fifth of sales collections to the protection of farmland, historic sites and properties prone to flooding.
The bill must clear both houses of the Legislature by June 30 to get on this year's ballot.
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