Borough of Park Ridge Public Question: open space trust fund (binding referendum)

Official plain English statement

This binding referendum will authorize the maintaining and continuing of the existing Municipal Open Space Trust Fund. The Municipal Open Space Trust Fund was previously approved by the voters of the Borough of Park Ridge on November 2, 2021, and therefore the approval of this referendum would not create a new tax burden on the residents of Park Ridge but simply continue and extend the previously approved Municipal Open Space Tax. This will permit Park Ridge to continue its Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund with an annual levy of up to 0.007 cents per $100 of assessed real property value. The average owner would pay $33 per year, or approximately $2.75 per month, ensuring continued support for the Municipal Open Space Trust Fund and the community projects it finances, unless Park Ridge voters choose to modify or repeal the fund through a future referendum. Funds can be used only for the development, maintenance, and acquisition of lands for recreation and land and water conservation purposes, and historic preservation. An oversight committee of local citizens will continue to advise the Borough on how funds should be spent. Every year there would be a public audit of all expenditures. The funds would enable Park Ridge to leverage matching grants from the county and state.