Here is a question all New Jerseyans should ask: "Where are we going?"

New Jersey's voters should ponder this when picking a governorNov. 3. Even more importantly, they should firmly establish the state's direction by approving Proposition 1, the Green Acres, Clean Water and Farmland Preservation Act that will provide $400 million to the state's now-depleted Preservation Trust Fund. Governors come and go, but once land is developed, it is gone forever.

The Trust — which funds the purchase of open lands, historic sites, and development rights of farmlands, and helps maintain state, county and local parklands — has been broke since last year. Sad, because the trust is an investment, not an expense. Developers and their political friends would have us believe otherwise and have us to continue down their path — more development "because we need the rateables."

However, their high-density condos and shopping malls and incredible traffic congestion never reduces taxes. Instead the increased demands placed on our infrastructure — more waste sewers lines and treatment plants, roads, storm sewers, schools, police, fire, and rescue — continually drive taxes upward. In contrast, studies prove protecting open space actually stabilizes taxes by slowing a town's overdevelopment. In turn, this increases property values and make the towns more attractive.

Upper Freehold Township for example, ran some numbers and discovered that for every $1 in taxes from developed land, the cost for services is $4.69. For every dollar collected from farmland, services cost — $.16. Yes, that's 16 cents. Open space pays.

Overdevelopment also increases the risks to our health due to water, land and air pollution. Do you know 75 percent of all New Jerseys' waters are so polluted we shouldn't swim or fish in them? Or that our water supplies are so overstressed that we have local water shortages every year? In contrast, by preserving open space, we control airborne pollutants, toxic runoff, and water pollution, we protect our natural land and water resources, we increase the safety of our natural food supplies, such as local fish and farm products, and we reduce the costs of water purification, waste treatment, and flood control. And we also protect the state's famous — and profitable — outdoor recreation and tourism activities.

Since 1961, New Jersey's voters have approved all 13 referenda to preserve open space. Clearly, we value our parklands. Then why doesn't our state legislature set up a permanent funding program, such as a percentage of taxes collected annually? Unfortunately, many legislators prefer development — and the developers' attendant political support — overprotecting our health and well being.

So open space advocates are asking voters again to approve a bond issue for the trust at a time when everyone is worried about jobs, pensions, home values, investments, and health care. But consider this: the economy is improving, the cost of open land is low, and every bond dollar is expected to bring $10 in economic value over the next 20 years.

So when we go to the polls on Nov. 3, let's decide where do we really want to be by approving Proposition 1 and take a big step in protecting our natural resources, our health — and our pocketbook.
Judith Stanley Coleman
President
Monmouth Conservation
Foundation
Middletown