County Set to Buy Parcel Near OCC

The Ocean County Board of Freeholders is considering the purchase of a 50-acre parcel near Ocean County College in Toms River as part of the county’s open-space preservation efforts.

According to WOBM.com, the freeholders are expected to vote Wednesday afternoon to approve the $250,000 purchase of the parcel, which would surround the college with open space, at the board’s meeting, which begins at 4 p.m. at the county administration building.

The purchase is funded through the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund, which was approved by county voters in 1997. A 1.2-cent tax, about $8 million annually, is dedicated to land purchases in the county. John C. Bartlett, deputy director of the Board of Freeholders, says the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund has allowed the county to preserve more than 16,000 acres, according to his page on the county’s website.

New Jersey voters will be asked to create a similarly dedicated fund in November, when they are to vote on a ballot measure that would dedicate part of the state’s business tax revenue to protecting open space and farmland.

The Assembly voted Monday 58-9 to place the measure, Assembly Bill ACR130, on the ballot. The Senate already had approved the ballot measure, SCR84, 36-1, on June 26.

Right now, 4 percent of the state’s corporation business tax, about $100 million, is set aside for environmental programs. Under the proposal, part of that 4 percent would be redirected to open space preservation. And starting in 2019, 6 percent of the revenue would go toward open space and other environmental projects.

The ballot measure, which would amend the state constitution, also would mean the state would stop putting money toward diesel pollution programs and park improvements and reduce the amount going toward water projects, hazardous site cleanups and underground storage tank programs.

The Office of Legislative Services says the open space funds would initially tally $32 million annually. But by 2019, it projects the funds would get $117 million a year — and more if the state collects more in business taxes.

Legislators from Ocean County supported the ballot measure unanimously.

Gov. Christie has opposed the measure on the grounds that it would limit budget flexibility.

New Jersey voters have routinely approved ballot measures to fund open-space purchases, including most recently in 2009, where $400 million was approved for the purpose.