On June 27, 2001, the County of Atlantic will hold a Public Hearing on the utilization of Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Trust Fund. This is the second round of funding through this program, which utilizes dollars from the Open Space Tax charged by the County. There are twenty-three towns in Atlantic County that are participating in this program. Buena Vista Township has been recommended for funding in the amount of $30,000. This funding will be added to previous funding of $20,000 to finance the construction of new restroom facilities at the Michael Debbi Park, and $10,000 for lights on the street hockey court at Quigley Park in Collings Lakes. These restrooms will be completed by July 1, 2001, in time for our Independence Day celebration.
“OPEN SPACE TAKES ON MANY FACES”
by Mayor Chuck Chiarello
A number of years ago Atlantic County residents voted to have a 2 percent Open Space Tax. In the early years of this program it was implemented at a rate of 1 percent and more recently the full 2 percent is being charged. Half of the tax dollars raised are being committed to the acquisition of open space and the other half is being applied to debt service and community projects on a town by town basis.
Buena Vista Township is in rural western Atlantic County. We are blessed with thousands of acres of mostly open space while other towns in the more populated eastern area of the county are built out to their maximum capacity. Acquiring land along the shore, mainland communities or any of the growth townships is truly a priority in this day and age. Buena Vista has garnered a few comments for utilizing open space dollars for new public restrooms at our main park. This enhancement to our open space is very valuable to our community. We have land set aside for public open space. We do not have the tax dollars to do all of the improvements to our parks that we would like to. The Atlantic County Open Space Program actually returns a portion of dollars that our taxpayers paid to support projects throughout this County. Under County Executive
Levinson’s program this is truly the first time our taxpayers are seeing their money being utilized in their own town. Enhancing open space with restrooms, lights, bike paths or picnic areas, allows more people to appreciate its value. Even Yellowstone National Park is not without lodging and other public facilities.
From an environmental perspective, I support conservative growth in our County and fully support acquisition of additional lands for open space when and where it makes sense! As a Mayor in a rural community, I also want to have our taxpayers get something in return for their tax dollars.
There will always be plenty of open space in Buena Vista Township – it’s the rest of the world that we have to worry about.
Sincerely,
Mayor Chuck Chiarello