The state Legislature voted on June 25 with strong bipartisan support in the Senate (26-7) and Assembly (66-9) to let New Jersey's voters decide in November whether to continue the state's investments in open space. The 129-organization coalition, the New Jersey - Keep It Green Campaign, applauded this overwhelming support.

The timing was crucial, with the Garden State Preservation Trust essentially empty and no longer able to undertake new preservation vital to New Jersey's water supply, health and prosperity, according to the Trust's website. The Trust has been supporting statewide and local efforts to provide for open space, parks, farmland preservation and historic preservation.

Twelve senators and 37 Assembly members sponsored or co-sponsored the legislation (S1858/A3901).

"Our elected officials have put their faith in voters to make the call on the future of New Jersey's open space," said Thomas Gilmore, chairman of the NJ-Keep It Green coalition, which favors the $400 million bond issue. "Every time New Jersey voters have been given that choice in a statewide ballot, they have voted in favor of open space investments because of the immediate and future value we experience for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren."

Voters have approved all 12 of the 12 statewide open space ballot issues since 1961.

"We applaud the Legislature for letting the voters choose to continue investing in preservation efforts," said Anthony Cucchi, NJ director of the Trust for Public Land. "These investments will provide $10 worth of benefits for every $1 invested," he added.

Benefits are in the form of ecosystem services (such as water purification, waste treatment and flood mitigation), natural goods (such as fish and farm products), and outdoor recreation and tourism activities, for example. Also, jobs would be created. The cost would be $10 annually per household, based on a 20- year bond at 5 percent interest.