Jessica Ercolino, Staff Writer
ALLENTOWN The Borough Council last week passed a resolution endorsing a state referendum question that seeks funding for preservation in New Jersey.
The “Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007” authorizes the state to issue $200 million in bonds to conserve open space and waterways prone to flooding or storm damage, as well as fund historic preservation projects. Allentown, which was founded 301 years ago, has more than one third of its properties on the National Historic Register. The borough is seeking funding for the preservation of open space and needs the state question to pass.
”We feel it’s important to preserve as much land in New Jersey as quickly as possible so it does not get developed,” said Mayor Stu Fierstein.
Gov. Jon Corzine signed a bill in July authorizing the question to appear on next month’s ballot. The resolution passed by the council at the Oct, 9 meeting encourages voters to vote yes on this issue.
The bond breakdown appears on the ballot, showing that $109 million will be used for Green Acres, $73 million for farmland preservation purposes, $12 million will fund a new Blue Acres program and $6 million will be used for historic preservation purposes.
The Garden State Preservation Trust, which finances the Green Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation programs, currently does not have a permanent funding mechanism. According to the resolution, the bond will fund the programs while a long-term solution can be secured.