Hopewell Township to seek money for trails, paths

Voters will be asked to OK a hike in open space tax rate, from 2 cents per $100 of assessed property value to 3 cents

   A ballot question asking voters to approve a 1-cent increase in the Hopewell Township open space tax rate will be on the November general election ballot.
   The increase would be in effect for five years. The full Township Committee voted unanimously Monday night to put the question before the electorate.
   If the voters approve, the township open space tax rate would go from 2 cents per $100 of assessed property value to 3 cents. The increase would be in effect from Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2012. At the end of that time, the tax would go back to 2 cents.
   For the owner of a township house assessed at $549,400, the township average, the 1-cent tax rate increase would mean about $55 a year.
   The ballot question will state that money raised from the 1-cent tax rate increase would be used for the acquisition, development and maintenance of lands for trails and paths for use by pedestrians and bicyclists. The money also could be used to pay debt service for such projects.
   Deputy Mayor David Sandahl estimates that the 1-cent increase would raise $250,000 over the five years. The interpretive statement on the November ballot will state that the money the extra cent would raise could be used for the development of walking trails on already-preserved open space tracts, or on the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail or Crossroads of the American Revolution Trail.
   Officials of the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail supported the ballot question during Monday night’s meeting. Several residents also supported it, along with Pennington Borough Councilwoman Eileen Heinzel.
   ”This is a wonderful way to get momentum behind the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail,” Ms. Heinzel said. She added that the trail could help enable township residents to walk to downtown Pennington. An already-completed portion of the trail runs along Pennington-Rocky Hill Road, but ends about a half-mile east of the borough.
   Mr. Sandahl said it would be difficult to pay for trails and walkways without the money the 1-cent tax increase would provide. Committeewoman Judy Niederer, who is poised to become the township’s recreation director (see separate story), noted public opinion polls over the years on the recreation issue, respondents have consistently listed trails for walking and biking at the top, or very near to the top, of their list of preferences for recreational facilities.
   If voters reject the ballot question, the open space tax would remain at 2 cents.