N.J. Senate advances bill to double open-space borrowing

TRENTON - The Senate Environment Committee released a bill yesterday that would let voters decide whether the state should borrow $600 million to preserve open space, farmland, and historic sites.

The committee doubled the amount to be borrowed, which was $300 million in the original bill. Sen. Bob Smith (D., Middlesex), a sponsor and the committee chairman, said the state should take advantage of depressed real estate prices to preserve open space.

"Since the early 1960s, New Jersey voters have supported every ballot question put before them to approve open-space bonding," Smith said in a statement after the hearing.

"Even in difficult economic times, New Jersey voters recognize the importance of preserved open space, as parks, wildlife refuges, preserved farmland, and historic and cultural sites. While the state is facing one of the toughest economic periods in modern history, I remain confident that voters will do the right thing and again reauthorize the state's open-space preservation efforts."

Sen. Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R., Somerset) proposed cutting the amount back to $300 million, saying he thought the public might not support borrowing $600 million. Bateman ultimately supported the substitute bill, which the committee approved, 4-1, with Sen. Andrew R. Ciesla (R., Ocean) opposed.

Sen. Philip E. Haines (R., Burlington), a sponsor of the original bill who is not on the Environment Committee, objected to the doubling and withdrew his support.

"A bond issuance of this size, in these perilous economic times, will almost certainly fail at the ballot box," he said. "Failure will cause irreparable harm to the cause of preserving open space and farmland."

Haines blamed the increase, which would be the second-largest single bond issue in New Jersey's modern history, on "political maneuvering" and said he would work to draft new legislation.

Environmentalists are also divided on the bill.

Kelly Mooij, spokeswoman for a coalition of more than 100 organizations that favor the bond referendum, said the Keep It Green Campaign believed the public would still support open-space efforts.

Though permanent funding would be ideal, she said, the coalition does not believe such a measure would pass in such a difficult economy.

"The Senate Environment Committee's support today for Garden State Preservation Trust is one of the most important steps they could have taken to preserve the nature of today for the people of tomorrow," said Thomas J. Gilmore, president of the New Jersey Audubon Society, a member of the coalition.

"With this significant step forward, we're closer to improving the quality of life for all residents of the state and reestablishing our role as a leader in outstanding land preservation."

Four prominent environmental groups oppose the measure: the New Jersey Environmental Federation, Environment New Jersey, the Sierra Club, and the New Jersey Environmental Lobby.

"We need a money source, not borrowed money," said David Pringle of the New Jersey Environmental Federation. "It's not right to kick the can down the road and make the next generation pay."

Some worry that voters will not approve borrowing so much during a recession. And some say stopgap measures should be backed by a revenue source.

"We're worried the governor and Legislature are returning to their past, poor policies - stopgap funding and short-term fixes - that result in less and unstable funding," said Doug O'Malley of Environment New Jersey.

"They need to rise above partisan and electoral politics and do the right thing: show leadership and implement long term, significant dedicated funding," he said.