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Freeholders announce new rate for Morris Open Space
tax
The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders on Jan. 28
approved a measure reducing the tax rate used to fund
the county’s Open Space, Farmland and Historic
Preservation Trust Fund.
The dedicated open space tax this year will be set at 3
cents per $100 of assessed property value, down from its
2008 level of 4 cents.
Estimates are that the new rate will generate between
$34 and $35 million this year to help fund projects
designed to preserve open space and farmland and protect
the county’s drinking water resources.
In reducing the tax, the freeholders said while
preservation remains an important initiative in the
county, today’s difficult economic climate warranted the
tax reduction.
The freeholders said reducing the tax by one cent will
not have a negative impact on the preservation
programs. They said the action preserves the programs’
integrity and also gives some relief to county
taxpayers.
Increased competition for preservation funds may also
create opportunities for lower land acquisition prices.
Voters approved the creation of the trust fund in 1992,
and the freeholders started the program the following
year. Since then, more than 17,700 acres have been
preserved.
The freeholders in 2008 approved more than $23 million
in funding for 21 municipal and non-profit open space
projects totaling more than 700 acres in 16 towns.
Any of the 39 municipalities in the county and qualified
charitable conservancies are eligible to apply for open
space funding. The open space tax also funds acquisition
of county parkland and preserves and protects historic
sites throughout Morris County.
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