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Ballot question

Old Bridge Township Public Question: open space, recreation, farmland and historic preservation tax

On the ballot in
Old Bridge Township
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

Shall the Township of Old Bridge impose an annual tax levy of up to $.03 Per $100.00 of assessed real property value and the amounts raised by such levy shall be deposited into the “Old Bridge Township Open Space Recreation and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund” and used exclusively for the following purposes: 1. The acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes; 2. The acquisition of farmland for farmland preservation purposes; 3. The development of lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes; 4. The maintenance of lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes; 5. The historic preservation of historic properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas or objects, and the acquisition of such properties, facilities, sites, areas, or objects for Historic preservation purposes; and 6. The payment of debt service or indebtedness issued or incurred by the municipality for any of the purposes set forth in (1), (2), (4), and (5), above. “The amount or rate of the annual levy to be allocated to each of the purposes set forth above shall be determined at a later date by the Township Council, upon approval of the proposition by the voters, after conducting at least one public hearing thereon. Any and all interest or other income earned on monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund to be used for the above-described purposes

A “Yes” vote means

The township may levy an open space tax of up to 3 cents per $100 of assessed value for a trust fund for open space, recreation, farmland and historic preservation.

A “No” vote means

The township does not levy the proposed open space tax.

Official plain English statement

The passage of this proposition would permit the Township of Old Bridge to impose an “Open Space Tax” for purposes of funding the “Old Bridge Township Open Space Recreation and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.” This fund can be used for acquiring and/or preserving farmland, open space, recreational and historic land, easements, development rights, or other interests in such real property. The revenue can also be used to acquire, improve, maintain, and/or preserve open space, recreational and historic properties for future generations to enjoy, as well as either purchase or deed restrict property so that remains as preserved open space and/or farmland. The revenue may also be used to pay the debt service on indebtedness issued or incurred for acquisition and/or preservation of open space, recreational and historical properties, open space preservation, farmland preservation, and historic preservation of historic properties. The Township would annually levy a tax rate of up to three (3) cents per $100.00 of total Township assessed real property value. The amount or rate of the annual levy to be allocated among the six purposes set forth above shall be determined by the Township Council after conducting one public hearing. As an example, at the rate of three (3) cents per $100 of assessed value, the owner of a property assessed at $125,000.00 would pay an additional $37.50 per year in real property taxes.

The clerk's list does not number this question.

Sources

The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.