would enable collection
of 1-cent tax by boro
Milltown referendum
would enable collection
of 1-cent tax by boro
By sandi carpello
Staff Writer
In an effort to safeguard the environment, the Milltown Borough Council voted Monday night to authorize a referendum asking residents to establish a municipal Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund.
If the referendum — to be a ballot question during the Nov. 5 general election — is approved, the mayor and council will be qualified to begin collecting an open space tax. The borough would levy a tax rate of 1 cent per $100 of assessed property valuation annually.
Alan S. Godber, chairman of the Milltown Environmental Commission, proposed the establishment of an open space fund in June, and his organization has suggested several undeveloped properties in the borough that could be purchased for preservation.
"There are several properties which the commission feels should be protected as open space. … A small amount of monies will need to be added to the taxes to provide this funding. Having such a fund permits other sources of funding such as [state] Green Acres monies, county grants, etc. to be added to the monies set aside in the borough Open Space Fund. Without such a fund, additional matching sources of funding cannot be obtained," Godber said.
The environmental commission has been working to provide the council with recommendations for preserving undeveloped and environmentally sensitive parcels of land since 2001. Last week, Godber provided the council with an interim report in which the commission identified and reviewed all undeveloped land in the borough.
According to Godber, the commission is in the midst of calculating all the details and cost figures, and will provide the council with a complete report sometime in the near future.
The environmental commission, in its interim report, identified 21 vacant parcels of land that could be considered for open space acquisition by the borough. The tracts are labeled in terms of whether they should be a priority for acquisition. Many of them are categorized as "No action recommended."
Among the high priority areas for acquisition was the corner of Elm and John streets and the Highland Drive foot bridge. Another high priority area is a lot east of Church Street — an exceedingly environmentally sensitive area comprised of grass, trees and wetlands, according to the report.
The council unanimously agreed to pass the resolution.
"This is a rare time when Milltown residents can have an active voice," Council President Mike Skarzynski said.
Officials in Milltown have said parcels could be preserved with open space funds for open space preservation, passive recreation and farmland, and historic preservation.
Borough Business Administrator Richard Rydstrom said he did know how much money would accumulate in the open space fund, if enacted, noting, "This is outside of normal borough business."
However, a resident who owns property with an assessed valuation of $70,000 would pay $7 more in municipal taxes if a 1-cent tax is established.
Residents in another nearby municipality, Monroe, will also be asked for the first time to approve an open space tax in November. The question asks residents to approve a tax levy at a rate of 1.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Monroe homeowners with property assessed at the borough average of $141,878 would pay about $21 more in annual property taxes if the open space fund is established.