The New Jersey – Keep It Green! Campaign, a
large coalition of land trusts, environmental groups, urban park and historic
preservation advocates, regional planners and recreational enthusiasts, called
on the Governor today to include his plan for renewing and strengthening the Garden
State Preservation Trust (GSPT) in his Tuesday State of the State address. This
plan, which he has repeatedly called for, most notably in an October op-ed, is
urgently needed as the fund is expected to be out of cash as early as this
summer.
"New Jersey is a national
leader in the preservation of open spaces and historic sites. If we do not renew
the GSPT this year, we lose our lead, but more importantly we lose our land and
our cultural heritage to development,” said
Jeff Tittel, Director of NJ Sierra Club. “Every day of delay means more
sprawl, more traffic, more pollution.”
“The State of the State is where the Governor lays out the
State’s most pressing work for the year, and renewal of land preservation
funding should rise to the top as it is key to solving a number of top priority
issues like controlling property taxes and generating economic growth,” said Alison Mitchell, Policy Director of
New Jersey Conservation Foundation.
To avoid a gap in funding for open space and historic site
acquisition, GSPT must be renewed and strengthened by the end of the year
through voter approval on the ballot this November. To achieve a place on the
ballot, the legislature must pass a plan by the end of June. However, the alliance says that the packed
legislative session agenda and budget politics dictates that action must be
taken by the end of March.
“Much is at stake and right now there’s no plan to preserve
open space and budget politics are about to run rampant. Renewing and
strengthening the Trust and the rest of the Governor’s laudable environmental
commitments have been slow out of the gate by his own admission. Fortunately,
the State of the State can be the needed jumpstart,” said David Pringle,
Campaign Director of NJ Environmental Federation.
“Urban municipalities that voted overwhelmingly for the
measure in 1998 will be in a difficult position should the momentum be lost,” said Kevin Moore, Project Director of the Weequahic Park
Association, Newark.
“The reinvention of the GSPT is a
matter of equity, social justice and democracy to correct the disparities from
the previous version of the legislation and build upon the investments made by
the State to deliver to urban residents their fair share… for a quality of life
they deserve,” said Moore.
Back in July, the Governor formed a working group to develop
a plan to fund open space and historic site acquisition and stewardship of
preserved land. That group is behind
schedule, but the Governor has promised that it would complete its work and
reveal its plan by this January.
“The Governor promised forward momentum in January; what
better forum to outline his plan than the State of the State address?” said Dena Mottola Jaborska, Executive
Director of Environment New Jersey.
The coalition has called on the Governor and the legislature
to ensure that the fund is renewed and strengthened by identifying a stable
source of constitutionally dedicated funds in the amount $381 million a year,
including $225 million a year for acquisition, $100 million a year for capital
projects and $56 million a year for operations with equity for all communities.
The acquisition and capital funds could be provided by bonding an annual
dedicated stream of approximately $150 million.
“The preservation of open space and the continued funding of
parks development is one of the most important things the Governor can do to
keep New Jersey’s
environment clean, green and rich in recreational opportunities. The additional
funds for stewardship and operations are critical to securing the public’s
ability to access and enjoy the preserved lands,” said Thomas J. Gilmore, President of New Jersey Audubon Society.
The recently introduced legislation by Senator Lance,
Senator Smith and Assemblyman McKeon (ACR229/SCR131) would dedicate $150
million annually from existing sales tax revenues to replenish the Garden State
Preservation Trust. With a few changes,
including addition of $56 million a year for operations, that bill could be the
best vehicle to fully renew the fund and support not only acquisition and
capital projects, but also operations, maintenance and stewardship of preserved
lands. In contrast, certain members of
the coalition have concerns about linking the sale or lease of State assets to
open space funding.
"New Jersey's economy has
grown over the last decade in large part because voters chose the correct path
10 years ago to preserve a million acres of open space, farmland and historic
sites. We urge Governor Corzine and the Legislature to find a comprehensive
solution to refinancing the Trust as soon as possible so that voters can again
choose to invest in our economy and strengthen our quality of life," said Thomas G. Dallessio, Vice President
and New Jersey Director of Regional Plan Association.
