Funding cleared for open space buys

06/22/07

Posted from the Daily Record newsroom

While the open space fund is running dry, prompting a proposed $200 million bond issue, funding is available to finance purchases in fiscal 2008, which were authorized by lawmakers Thursday in bills that:

• Allot $45.2 million for farmland preservation purchases, including $2.2 million available because past projects were withdrawn. The largest is $6 million for a 146-acre farm in Freehold Township.

• Appropriate $40 million in Green Acres funds, including $18 million for projects in the Highlands region.

• Provide $30.7 million for farmland preservation and soil and water conservation grants, nearly half of which comes from $14.6 million in previouslly approved projects that were withdrawn.

• Provide $15.4 million in farmland preservation funds for planning incentive grants to counties and municipalities, including $9.6 million from earlier awards that are now canceled.

• Make $11 million available for historic preservation projects.

• Appropriate $6 million to nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation projects, including $1.5 million each for the Delaware and Raritan Greenway, Monmouth Conservation Foundation, Morris Land Conservancy and New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

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