State open-space funding question will go to voters Environmental groups will lobby hard for GSPT renewal in months head BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer New Jersey voters will determine in November whether to issue $200 million in bonds to fund the state's Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT) for one more year. Civic groups applauded the bill's passage, but said that there was still much work to do, both in terms of convincing voters to approve the referendum and in finding long-term funding solutions for the preservation trust. "This bond act is a down payment on the future of New Jersey," said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "This will keep the green in Green Acres and is our number-one election priority." The legislation, signed by Gov. Jon Corzine on July 31, was the result of a compromise between the governor and the Legislature over how to fuel the popular land-preservation program. Corzine has said that he supports the program, which funds open space and historic preservation programs throughout the state, but does not want to add to the state's already-large debt load. The Legislature had wanted to repeat the program, which had been set to expire this year, through the use of bonds over the next 10 years. This, supporters say, would provide a sustainable funding source for preservation efforts and allow local players to think more long-term when it comes to land purchases. The governor, on the other hand, has intimated that he would like to use revenues from the sale or lease of state assets, such as its toll roads or lottery, to fuel this program. Some had previously criticized him for using a program that has proved to be quite popular with voters as a way to advance his vision of asset monetization, though the governor has stated that he is open to other ideas that do not further the state's debt. The program was originally going to run out entirely, though fast action on the part of the Legislature was able to get an additional $30 million into the existing fund. Further action led to the $200 million bond question approved by the governor. The money from these bonds will go toward several state preservation efforts, including farmland preservation; Green Acres, which buys land for open space; historic preservation; and the new Blue Acres program, which buys land in flood-prone properties. According to the Keep It Green campaign, a collection of over 90 various groups that support the GSPT, the state loses about 40 acres of open space to development each day. Joanna Wolaver, the coalition's spokesperson, said that the program is successful because it helps mitigate the negative after-effects of development. "When New Jersey residents vote on Nov. 6, they will not only have the opportunity to fund a successful public program, but also to determine the future they will leave their children and grandchildren - a future with clean water, open space and natural beauty," said Wolaver, who also represents the New Jersey Audubon Society. Wolaver said that the coalition will spend the summer and fall engaged in a grassroots campaign, a media campaign and, perhaps, a flier campaign to remind citizens to vote and to encourage them to approve the bond referendum. "It's kind of a full-force campaign to really try to get the public out," Wolaver said.