By Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer
FLORENCE — Voters approved a question 2,252 to 1,774 on Nov. 4 that will establish an open space trust fund with taxpayer money.
Township Administrator Richard Brook said the fund will allow the township to develop lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes, acquire farmland for preservation, and historic preservation of such properties.
The ordinance authorizing the open space preservation question was adopted in July.
The tax will be 1 cent per $100 of average assessed property value to be paid annually for the next 20 years. With the average house value at $117,248, it will cost the average taxpayer $11.70 a year.
Mr. Brook estimated that this tax will net the township approximately $50,000 to $60,000 annually.
This is the first time that a municipal open space tax special question has appeared on a ballot in the township, said Mr. Brook.
There are 18 other municipalities in the county that have an open space tax, according to the county.
To date, the Township Council has no specific tracts of land earmarked, but will likely begin searching for appropriate parcels in the rural part of the township in mid-2009 .
“Without having a dedicated tax for open space preservation, it was just too difficult to set aside money in the operational budget,” he said.
“With the tax being 1 cent, the Township Council decided that this would be the best opportunity at a relatively low cost for residents that would realize a significant benefit to the township for many years to come,” he said.

