The West Windsor Town Council approved a draft resolution which, if approved by residents, will drop the Open Space Tax rate to three cents per $100 of assessed property value. The resolution follows a recommendation by Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, and also includes a change in the amount of the fund allowed to be used annually to maintain and improve the town’s Open Space holdings.
The tax rate is being lowered to keep the amount of reveue generated similar to where it was before the township underwent re-valuation. The increase in assessed value brought a $1.3 surplus. Council discussed, but did not decide on, how best to use that money. The township may decide to either pay down short term debt, or purchase new property. Either could prove more financially beneficial to the township and the taxpayers over the course of time.
The draft resolution states that amount of the annual Open Space fund that can be used for maintenance and improvement of the properties will be raised from “no more than 10 percent” to “no more than 25 percent.” Helen Rancan, president of Friends of West Windsor Open Space (FOWWOS), disagrees with this part of the proposal. Says Rancan: “This will reduce the township’s ability to purchase new property.”
“An increase in the development and maintenance portion of the overall open space fund reduces the amount available to acquire additional parcels, as identified in the open space plan, as approved by the state’s Green Acres Program,” says Rancan. “Such a reduction in purchasing power may affect the Township’s ability to secure matching funds from other governmental agencies and associations.”
Rancan believes the township could use the increased allowance for purposes not intended by the Open Space Tax Fund. Said Rancan in a press release: “By their own admission, the Township Administration does not have a well documented method for determining how much money is needed to develop and maintain open spaces. There are no strategic management plans in place.”
Says Hsueh: “When we use the term `up to 25 percent,’ Council has control over exactly how much we use. Every time we do the budget, we will have more specific numbers. We may only use 15 percent, we don’t know right now how much we will need until we have precise numbers each year. It’s important that we have flexibility.”
Flexibility, says the Mayor, will enable the township to purchase land if a good opportunity arises. The township has identified six parcels of Open Space Land which it will next target for purchase. There currently is no plan for how to use the space in question. Council debated the wisdom in acruing debt on land for which there is no plan.
Says Hsueh, “I agree with FOWWOS’ position that if we have parcels available, we need to buy them. When I bought my first house, I didn’t have furniture. I believe first you buy the house, furniture can wait. If we have parcels available, I will be the first to recomend that we buy them, and not use the full 25 percent [for maintenance].”
Rancan says the six properties are identified according to the willingness of the current owners to sell to the township. West Windsor is currently approximately 48 percent preserved open space. Hsueh says the acquisition of the land will take that figure over 50 percent.
Township Attorney Michael Herbert recommended making a resolution rather than an ordinance. He said it should be made after July 1, since all resolutions lapse when Council re-organizes on that date. Council voted unanimously to hear public comment, deliberate, and vote on the draft resolution on July 17.
After lengthy deliberation and discussion with Rancan, other representatives from FOWWOS and the public, Council voted to draft resolution of a tax rate of exactly what the Mayor proposed.
Council voted 4-1 in favor of dropping the tax to 3 cents per $100 and 4-1 in favor of raising the maintenance funds. Council President Charles Morgan was the lone vote against the decrease to 3 cents.
Said Morgan, “I’m inclined to want to support 2 cents, and return that penny, but intelectually, it may be smarter to go with 3 cents. I also believe that this referendum is going to get passed no matter what rate we chose. We could set it at 6 cents. It will pass, because it’s better than 7. We have the community over a hump. As a public, elected official, I believe it is incumbent upon us to set it as low as we can.”
Morgan’s vote was cast last, after four approvals made his vote technically meaningless. He said, “It’s symbolic, but it’s important.”
Heidi Kleinman cast the lone vote against raising the allowance for maintenance. She reasoned that the council needs more information before making that determination.
The referendum will be put to a resident vote this November if council approves a final version sixty days before Tues., Nov. 7. It will appear on the ballot as one issue. Townspeople will not be able to separately vote for the decrease in tax or increase in maintenance alottment.
