Mercer County voters have third question on open space funds
There will be two statewide public questions on the ballot Tuesday, and a third question for residents of Mercer County.
To help voters have a better understanding of the questions, the nonpartisan League Of Women Voters of New Jersey provides the following information.
Question No. 1
The first question asks voters approve the Building Our Future Bond Act, which would authorize the state to issue bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $750 million to provide matching grants to New Jersey’s colleges and universities. Money from the grants would be used to build, equip and expand higher education facilities for the purpose of increasing academic capacity.
If approved, public and private colleges and universities that receive grants will be required to provide funds for 25 percent of their projects’ cost. Bond proceeds will be allocated as follows: $300 million for public research universities; $247.5 million for state colleges and state universities; $150 million for county colleges; and $52.5 million for private institutions with an endowment of $1 billion or less.
The League of Women Voters provides three arguments for and three arguments against the ballot question. Three reasons to support it are:
• A highly qualified workforce is necessary for competing in a global economy and for keeping and attracting businesses to New Jersey.
• A 2011 report identified $6 billion in high-priority capital improvement projects needed at state colleges and universities. A general obligation bond is one means of financing projects other than with campus-backed debt, which can lead to higher tuition. The last state bond issue for high education was in 1988 and was for $350 million.
• The infusion of $750 million in facilities construction will, in the short term, stimulate New Jersey’s construction industry.
Arguments against the ballot question include:
• During an economic downturn and slow recovery, taking on additional state debt may be unwise.
• $750 million falls far short of the $6 billion the college and university presidents have identified as being needed for priority projects.
• The amount is very restricted in purpose and does not allow the institutions to apply the grants flexibly to their greatest needs, which may not be more classroom and academic space.
Question No. 2
The second statewide question asks voters to approve an amendment to the state Constitution to require Supreme Court justices and Superior Court judges to contribute toward their employee benefits, including pension and healthcare.
The amendment responds to a question raised in a 2011 lawsuit filed by a judge after the Legislature passed and Gov. Chris Christie signed a law that increased the contributions taken from current and future justices’ and judges’ salaries for their benefits. The lawsuit, appealed to the state Supreme Court, argued against taking higher contributions from judges, citing language in the Constitution stating judges’ salaries cannot be reduced during their appointed terms.
This amendment would clarify that such deductions, set by law, may be taken from judges’ salaries during their terms. It would also allow for the higher contributions to be deducted from current and future judges’ salaries.
According to the league, reasons to vote yes include:
• It is an issue of fairness. If change in pension and benefit contributions is a legitimate public policy goal, then judges and justices should be treated the same as other public sector employees.
• The major part of judges’ salaries would continue to be protected from reduction during their term. Only increased deductions to fund benefits would be permitted.
Reasons to vote against the public question include:
• Judges are treated differently than other government employees so they are free to decide issues that come before them without fear of retribution from other branches of government.
• Judges are also treated differently because they are prohibited from earning additional income and they are not covered by any collective bargaining agreement that provides for increases in salaries or benefits.
Question No. 3 (Mercer County only)
In Robbinsville, voters will also be casting ballots on a Mercer County question that seeks authorization to allocate funds raised for open space, recreation, and the farmland and historic trust fund differently.
If approved, the funds would be allocated as follows: at least 70 percent for preservation of parks, farmland, and other open space; up to 20 percent for recreational development and/or historic preservation; and up to 10% for stewardship of the land. Stewardship is a new category that covers the cost of equipment, personnel and materials needed to maintain and protect preserved property, as well as fostering habitat protection, restoration and educational programs.
This proposition does not increase the levy beyond 3 cents per $100 of equalized valuation — the amount already approved by voters. Approval of the question authorizes only the reallocation of the money to include stewardship.
Polls will be open Tuesday, Nov. 6 from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. Polling stations have changed in Upper Freehold and Millstone Township due to issues related to last week’s hurricane.
In Upper Freehold, the voting locations for Districts 2, 3 and 4 have been moved to the Stone Bridge Middle School on Rt. 524. In Millstone, voters in districts, 3,4,5 and 6 will now be voting at Millstone Middle School, located at 5 Dawson Court, not the Primary School.
There are no storm-related polling place changes in Robbinsville, Allentown or Plumsted.

