Did voters understand 2006 Open Space referendum?
November 16, 2006• (0) Comments
Going into this election, we knew that some voters would say No to any tax increase, but vetoing this program was “penny-wise and pound-foolish.”
Last Tuesday, voters in Peapack-Gladstone Borough easily defeated a Local Question authorizing an increase in our local Open Space property tax from 3 cents up to 6 cents. I can hardly blame those friends and neighbors who sent a message that they’ve had “enough!” of higher property taxes here. Unfortunately, our eight year-old Open Space Trust has been the best weapon local taxpayers have had to defend us from the root cause behind most New Jersey property tax pain: residential sprawl and its associated demand for new municipal services. Going into this election, we knew that some voters would say No to any tax increase, but vetoing this program was “penny-wise and pound-foolish.”