Currently the township can only use open space money to purchase properties, but not maintain or improve them.
Mt. Laurel is moving ahead with a referendum for this fall that asks voters to make a change in how the township is able to spend the money collected from its open space tax.
Mt. Laurel Council passed an ordinance on second reading at this week’s meeting that will put a question to voters in November asking if the township should be allowed to use open space tax funds for the improvement of open space lands the township owns.
Township officials say the referendums passed by voters in 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2007 that govern the township’s use of open space taxes were written so narrowly the township is only able to use money collected for the purchase of news lands and nothing else.
Officials say any money needed for the upkeep or improvement of those lands must come from other sources of revenue.
“It (previous referendums) only allows us to acquire land,” Deputy Mayor Rich Van Noord said. “You couldn’t dedicate any funds to the repair of or improvement of the lands. That requires a second bucket of funds.”
Township officials also said they wanted to make it clear that if voters approve the change in November, the township’s open space tax would not be affected.
Officials have said any change approved by voters would only affect how open space money is spent, not the amount that is collected.
“There’s no tax increase to the residents,” acting township manager Meredith Tomczyk said. “It’s just asking voters that in addition to just purchasing land, the township is able to maintain and improve the land we have already purchased.”
During the public comment portion of the meeting, a resident asked council if there was a list of potential projects for the open space money, but township officials said they couldn’t decide any specific upkeep or improvement ideas before residents have a chance to vote in November.
“We can’t get that list until it (the referendum) is approved,” Van Noord said.
For that same reason, officials said they also did not have a timeline for any potential projects.
Generally speaking however, officials have said funds could be used on projects such as replacing pieces of historic buildings, building fences or maintaining trails and pavilions.
“It’s ongoing and we have to maintain these properties after acquiring them,” Mayor Dennis Riley said. “The good thing is there’s no increase in the tax, but as with any other property, they have to be maintained going forward and this (referendum) would help greatly.”
Residents can vote on whether to change how open space money is spent during this year’s general election on Nov. 7.
