The Oakland town council will be seeking feedback from residents on a proposed referendum concerning Oakland’s local open space tax which was approved by referendum in 2003 and 2008.
The council is planning a new referendum for November 2013, and must submit the referendum to the county by August in order for it to appear on this year’s general election ballot.
Reported on in The Bergen Record, the discussion on renewing the open space tax raises two important issues for Oakland residents to consider.
1) Raising the open space tax.
2) Removing the time limit on the open space tax.
Open space taxes have been adopted by many municipalities, and counties; and, as the economy has struggled over the last several years, discussions have led to considerations of lowering the open space tax as was done by Bergen County. In 2007, voters rejected a referendum to increase the open-space tax, and the tax was reduced in 2010 from one cent to one-fourth of a cent per $100 of assessed value.
One major difference between the open space tax situation in the county as compared to Oakland concerns the expanded use of open space funds to finance local playgrounds, tennis courts, and other recreational services not traditionally associated with preserving open space.
Open space funds, while originally dedicated to the purchase and preservation of “open space”, have been used to build recreational facilities and preserve historic landmarks. While Oakland has this option, there is no evidence that open space funds have been used for anything except the purchase and preservation of open space.
And there is a lot of open space in Oakland…which means at a minimum the existing open space tax is necessary to finance the debt on these previous purchases.
One of the most recent large purchases, Pleasureland is now the focus of a planning project with several presentations presented to the town council and two town hall meetings with various stakeholders leading a community discussion on the proposed plans.
Some of the other more recent purchases are the Raymond Property located on Ramapo Valley Road across from the First Aid Squad; and, the NJ Capital Property located off Breakneck Road.
To date, two of the most expensive open space purchases – NJ Capital property for over 5 million and Pleasureland for over 2 million, do not provides access to the general public; and, the NJ Capitalproperty is completely unusable to anyone except those properties that border it.
Pleasureland – now under the working title of Great Oak Park – appears to have the most steam as team comprised of various commissioners from Recreation, Environmental, and Shade Tree have worked with local residents to establish a plan to give access and passive recreational uses to the property – but it still in the planning stages.
The Raymond property on Route 202 has been in the planning stages for years, with definitive plans and funding in place in 2010 but nothing implemented; a boy scout project did lead to a clearing of underbrush.
According to The Record report, Oakland’s CFO Jim Mangin is suggesting that the open space tax be raised to deal with the current fiscal obligations; in the same meeting, council member Visconti offered up that failure to renew the open space tax would in no way lower taxes for residents as the financial obligations would then need to be met from general tax revenue.
While not renewing the open space tax on the November ballot is a potential option for voters, the real feedback being considered in the coming weeks will be whether the open space tax will be raised and how permanent will this tax be.
Links:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/207978141_Bergen_rejects_boost_in_open-space_tax.html?page=all
http://theoaklandjournal.com/features/great-white-oak-park-plans-underway/
Weren’t open space funds used on the tennis court project? Could be wrong but I seem to recall somewhere that they were.
I have no issue with renewing the open space tax and would be open to a possible increase depending on how much it is but I’d balk at having it not expire. It’s one of the very few taxes the residents have a say in and I don’t think the right to renew it or not should be taken away. Let it come up for renewal every 5 years or so. That’ll also give the politicos a chance to talk it up or down and will also allow for any increases or decreases to the tax.
Mr. Ahearn, I agree with you with one exception.
My party does not believe in the fourth word from the end of the last sentence of your comment.
I would like a full disclosure of open space policy before funding resumes. We need to know exactly what spaces in town are now considered open space and have been purchased with taxpayer funds? What rights do residents have to the open space property we have purchased? Are rights restricted to a privileged few, or those who can afford to pay dues or usage fees? As a homeowner and resident, if I’m paying for open space based on a property tax, I want the right to use it without socioeconomic discrimination. And if any segments of the town populace are excluded, then the tax should NOT be renewed, period. In addition, I would dread to think we are wasting funds from the mountain top to the valley on pure “open space” that no one would ever care to access in the first place. What a waste that would be. The open space was originally purchased in 1695. Do we really have to pay for it again to keep it “open?”
And how about that open space property behind Szabo and Betsy’s house. If I want to hike it am I allowed? I heard there is no parking, but can’t I park on the street then walk to the property to hike? And how much did that property cost?
Good point Karl. It would be good to hike on some of this newly purchased territory. Are Oakland homeowners subsidizing the privacy of the politicians because God forbid someone wants to build a home or live in town too close to the former Mayor or a Councilwoman? Wouldn’t want to spoil their view now. How about if some of this “open space” money goes to preserve the Steam House and Van Allen House and Library. What are we doing with our tax funds? Are we insane? Buying up a lot of nothingness?