Special Meeting on Open Space Tax Tonight

Borough Commissioners will hold a special meeting tonight to discuss, and possibly amend, an open space tax question set to appear on the November ballot.

The workshop portion of the meeting starts at 6 p.m. in Borough Hall, room 102. The action portion of the meeting—where a vote could occur—takes place immediately after.

At hand is the open space tax ballot question. In June, Borough Commissioners approved a resolution to ask voters whether Haddonfield should have an open space tax of up to 2¢ per $100 in assessed value.

The current open space tax, approved by voters in 2006, expires at the end of the year. If approved, this tax would last another five years, until Dec. 31, 2016.

The open space tax would amount to $98.27 annually for homeowners with a properties assessed at the borough average of $491,359.

Borough Administrator Sharon McCullough said earlier the special purpose levy would generate between $110,000 and $113,000 each year. By year’s end, she said, the tax will have raised $525,000.

None of that money has been spent, McCullough added.

If approved, as stated in the June resolution passed by the commissioners, the open space fund is restricted to purchasing, developing and maintaining borough lands for recreation and conservation; for acquiring or preserving historic properties; or for the debt of those actions. (Click on the PDF, above right, to view the June 2011 resolution.)

If voters pass the tax, Haddonfield could apply for double the amount of New Jersey Green Acres Program funds for open space purchases, according to borough officials.