Keep it Green
Campaign to preserve New Jersey’s parks, natural areas, clean water, farmland, and historic treasures
Campaign to preserve New Jersey’s parks, natural areas, clean water, farmland, and historic treasures
204 W. State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608
Website: www.NJKeepItGreen.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 28, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 28, 2013
Tel: (609) 392-1181
Contacts: Tom Gilbert (267) 261-7325 Kelly Mooij (732) 539-1693
Contacts: Tom Gilbert (267) 261-7325 Kelly Mooij (732) 539-1693
NJ KEEP IT GREEN EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR REVISED APPROACH TO
LAND, WATER AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUNDING BILL
Coalition Urges Legislature to Continue Bipartisan Legacy of Support for Open Space
TRENTON, N.J. – NJ Keep It Green, a coalition of over 180 organizations, today expressed support for a revised approach to landmark legislation (SCR160/ACR205) that provides a sustainable source of funding for open space, water supply and flood-plain protection, farmland and historic preservation projects, and urged the Legislature to advance the bill.The Senate already passed very similar legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support (by a vote of 36 to 2).
The Coalition is calling upon the Legislature to approve the legislation by the end of July, which would ask voters in November to dedicate a small percentage of state sales-tax revenues to renew and sustain funding for the Green Acres, Blue Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation programs. The revised legislation addresses concerns that were raised about the scale and the cost of the measure.
“NJ Keep it Green urges legislators to vote in favor of this bipartisan bill, which has the full support of the Coalition, because it provides a stable source of funding to continue vital open space, water supply and flood-plain protection, farmland and historic preservation efforts over the next three decades,” said NJ Keep It Green Chairman Tom Gilbert. “If this legislation does not pass, decades of successful preservation efforts will grind to a halt, threatening important land and water protection and park and historic preservation projects, many of which are already underway.”
The legislation proposes a constitutional amendment – to be approved by voter referendum – to dedicate $200 million annually of sales tax revenue for preservation and stewardship of open space, farmland, waterways and historic sites.
The proposed legislation is a fiscally responsible approach that won’t increase taxes or state debt. The dedication would not begin until FY2015, so there would be no impact on next year’s budget. $200 million represents less than 2/3 of a percent of the state budget, and is the average annual amount the state has been investing in preservation programs since 1998. The funds would come from the projected growth of more than $400 million annually in sales taxes revenues leaving hundreds of millions of dollars available to fund other programs above and beyond today’s levels.
“NJ Keep It Green thanks Senators Smith and Bateman, Assemblywomen Spencer and Watson Coleman and Assemblymen McKeon, Greenwald, Mainor, Conaway and O’Donnell for sponsoring this legislation,” said Kelly Mooij, NJ Keep It Green coordinator. “We urge the Legislature to pass the bill with the same bipartisan support demonstrated by the recent Senate vote, and give voters the opportunity to support vital land, water and historic preservation efforts that will keep New Jersey’s economy strong and maintain important quality of life benefits.”
Approximately 20 percent of the state, or one million acres, still remain unprotected and developable. Yet there is a significant need to preserve open space, drinking water sources, and natural buffers along the coast and in-land waterways that will help prevent future flood and storm damage.
Further, an additional 350,000 acres of farmland need to be preserved to maintain a viable agricultural industry. Agriculture is the state's third largest industry, with the state's more than 10,000 farms generating at least a billiondollars annually.
TRENTON, N.J. – NJ Keep It Green, a coalition of over 180 organizations, today expressed support for a revised approach to landmark legislation (SCR160/ACR205) that provides a sustainable source of funding for open space, water supply and flood-plain protection, farmland and historic preservation projects, and urged the Legislature to advance the bill.The Senate already passed very similar legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support (by a vote of 36 to 2).
The Coalition is calling upon the Legislature to approve the legislation by the end of July, which would ask voters in November to dedicate a small percentage of state sales-tax revenues to renew and sustain funding for the Green Acres, Blue Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation programs. The revised legislation addresses concerns that were raised about the scale and the cost of the measure.
“NJ Keep it Green urges legislators to vote in favor of this bipartisan bill, which has the full support of the Coalition, because it provides a stable source of funding to continue vital open space, water supply and flood-plain protection, farmland and historic preservation efforts over the next three decades,” said NJ Keep It Green Chairman Tom Gilbert. “If this legislation does not pass, decades of successful preservation efforts will grind to a halt, threatening important land and water protection and park and historic preservation projects, many of which are already underway.”
The legislation proposes a constitutional amendment – to be approved by voter referendum – to dedicate $200 million annually of sales tax revenue for preservation and stewardship of open space, farmland, waterways and historic sites.
The proposed legislation is a fiscally responsible approach that won’t increase taxes or state debt. The dedication would not begin until FY2015, so there would be no impact on next year’s budget. $200 million represents less than 2/3 of a percent of the state budget, and is the average annual amount the state has been investing in preservation programs since 1998. The funds would come from the projected growth of more than $400 million annually in sales taxes revenues leaving hundreds of millions of dollars available to fund other programs above and beyond today’s levels.
“NJ Keep It Green thanks Senators Smith and Bateman, Assemblywomen Spencer and Watson Coleman and Assemblymen McKeon, Greenwald, Mainor, Conaway and O’Donnell for sponsoring this legislation,” said Kelly Mooij, NJ Keep It Green coordinator. “We urge the Legislature to pass the bill with the same bipartisan support demonstrated by the recent Senate vote, and give voters the opportunity to support vital land, water and historic preservation efforts that will keep New Jersey’s economy strong and maintain important quality of life benefits.”
Approximately 20 percent of the state, or one million acres, still remain unprotected and developable. Yet there is a significant need to preserve open space, drinking water sources, and natural buffers along the coast and in-land waterways that will help prevent future flood and storm damage.
Further, an additional 350,000 acres of farmland need to be preserved to maintain a viable agricultural industry. Agriculture is the state's third largest industry, with the state's more than 10,000 farms generating at least a billiondollars annually.
Further, every $1 invested in state land preservation efforts returns $10 in economic value to the
state through nature's goods and services, like flood control and water filtration, which would otherwise have to be paid for by taxpayers.
Since 1961 New Jersey voters have passed 13 out of 13 ballot measures supportive of funding for open space, farmland and historic preservation. Moreover, voter surveys continue to indicate overwhelming bipartisan support for a dedicated sales tax for open space funding.
A NJ Keep It Green commissioned survey recently of 600 registered likely voters found that 69 percent of voters support dedicating $200 million annually from state sales tax revenues to fund open space, farmland and historic preservation programs.
Since the start of the year 15 counties - Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Union and Warren – have all passed resolutions supporting sustainable open space funding as have the NJ Highlands Council and the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.
About NJ Keep It Green NJ Keep It Green is a coalition of more than 180 park and conservation advocates working to create a long-term, dedicated source of funding for the preservation and stewardship of New Jersey’s natural areas, waterways, parks, farmland and historic sites. NJ Keep It Green led successful campaigns to pass statewide ballot measures in 2006, 2007, and 2009 generating $600 million for state open space, farmland and historic preservation programs. For more information or to sign the NJ Keep It Green Statement of Support, visit www.njkeepitgreen.org.
state through nature's goods and services, like flood control and water filtration, which would otherwise have to be paid for by taxpayers.
Since 1961 New Jersey voters have passed 13 out of 13 ballot measures supportive of funding for open space, farmland and historic preservation. Moreover, voter surveys continue to indicate overwhelming bipartisan support for a dedicated sales tax for open space funding.
A NJ Keep It Green commissioned survey recently of 600 registered likely voters found that 69 percent of voters support dedicating $200 million annually from state sales tax revenues to fund open space, farmland and historic preservation programs.
Since the start of the year 15 counties - Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Union and Warren – have all passed resolutions supporting sustainable open space funding as have the NJ Highlands Council and the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.
About NJ Keep It Green NJ Keep It Green is a coalition of more than 180 park and conservation advocates working to create a long-term, dedicated source of funding for the preservation and stewardship of New Jersey’s natural areas, waterways, parks, farmland and historic sites. NJ Keep It Green led successful campaigns to pass statewide ballot measures in 2006, 2007, and 2009 generating $600 million for state open space, farmland and historic preservation programs. For more information or to sign the NJ Keep It Green Statement of Support, visit www.njkeepitgreen.org.
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