October 29, 2007 - 12:08am
Question 3: The “Open Space” Scam
By Steve Lonegan
Tags: eminent domain, open space, property rights, ballot, Green Acres Farmland Blue Acres and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007, questions
In 1998, New Jersey committed a staggering $3 billion to preserving so-called open space by floating more debt and mortgaging our children’s future. While the world was moving away from socialism with aggressive land reforms to allow property rights and markets to function in the area of land-use, New Jersey chose to go in the other direction, consolidating land control in the hands of state bureaucrats. The program has been, by any measure, a failure, falling well-short of its goals, although achieving the tragic “success” of moving over 300,000 acres of land from private citizens to the state.
Nine years later, voters will decide, when we vote on question three - the “Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007,” - whether we want the state to borrow another $200 million. We don’t have to keep this racket going, including allowing the state to use the power of eminent domain to forcibly take land from property owners.
Being for “open space” might feel good, but it’s poor public policy. Taxpayers cannot afford more debt. New Jersey is the fourth most indebted state in the nation with over $33 billion in debt, has a stagnant economy, and is hemorrhaging population, making the debt burden that much more onerous for those of us who stay in New Jersey. We cannot afford more debt, interest payments, and spending. This is not a time to waste another $200 million on a program that has demonstrated diminishing results.
Home prices are already high, not just because of economic fundamentals but also the high regulatory burdens we place through permitting and environmental requirements. Restrictions on the availability of land make New Jersey even less affordable by decreasing the supply, which requires the state to spend more on future land purchases as the central planners continue to advance there agenda. This also erodes the property tax base by moving land from taxable owners in the private sector off the tax rolls and into government hands.
As local property tax rolls are depleted, there are two possible outcomes, either property taxes are raised on the remaining private property or the state provides so-called hold-harmless funds, as the Act suggests. But that’s not a solution, because it means passing these costs to taxpayers statewide. Another effect on our society is the most disturbing. Supply and demand will force up the cost of land and the one family home, the American Dream, slips further out of reach for many homebuyers. This is what Trenton’s social engineers want, pushing residents into high-density, government subsidized “affordable” housing.
Proponents of the Act claim that it doesn’t contain a tax increase But, it will lead to one, both because of the costs of servicing the bonds and state-aid to make up for lost local property tax revenue. The Act contains language that would result in an automatic tax hike when the state legislature fails to fund the bonds - which means raising taxes, since offsetting spending cuts are unlikely from this legislature. The tax hike would be an increase in the property taxes in every municipality.
Worst of all is that property acquired under this socialistic land reform program would not necessarily be voluntarily sold by its owners. The Act establishes four separate trust funds - green acres, farmland, blue acres, and historic preservation. Only the trust fund for blue acres, which refers to areas in flood plains, is restricted to purchases from willing sellers.
For the other three funds, the Act is explicit that one of the powers the state will use to “acquire” property is to seize it through the power of eminent domain. Giving the rampant eminent domain abuses we’ve seen, providing funds to be used this way is dangerous.
Taxpayers have been conned into spending a staggering sum on open space preservation bonds and additional “Open Space” taxes with little to show for it other than a mountain of debt and higher property taxes. The most important environmental aspect to question 3 regards not the natural but the fiscal environment - taxpayers can’t afford this bond measure and should vote against it November Sixth.
Steve Lonegan is the Mayor of Bogota, NJ, and Executive Director of Americans for Prosperity - New Jersey. Americans for Prosperity (AFP) and Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFP Foundation) are committed to educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing those citizens as advocates in the public policy process. He is a prolific writer, having been published in newspapers and blogs. He just published a book, Putting Taxpayers First: A Blueprint for Victory in the Garden State, that discusses the impact of the Trenton government on the well being of the taxpayers of the state. He offers solid and workable solutions. Learn more at lonegan.com.
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YOUR BEST POST EVER!
No way to contradict this one.
Did you make sure whoever wrote it for you had their papers straight?
Part ways
Lonegan is on the wrong side of this one, in the most densely populated state, we needed to curb the building. This State has proven that more residents equal higher taxes, so the invetment they made to preserve the land is well worth the future cost more residential housing will bring.
historic preservation bond act
didn't anyone else notice that question 3 also includes something about restoring inner-city historic buildings??
in what way is that helping open space...
The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets. - Will Rogers
The “Open Space” Scam
How does "Esteban" Lonegan have the gall to show his face anymore? Say addios amigo!
Our kids will thank us
I'll grant you this much-- billions of borrowed dollars have been squandered in NJ for schools construction, pension bonds, and other nefarious purposes.
But land-- and quality of life-- are the true definitions of value and public purpose.
It's the only borrowing I feel 100 percent confident we are doing right, leaving a legacy for our kids that they will be more than glad we spent their dollars on.
Mind you, the price we're paying today, however much of a premium it may be, is far less than they will have to pay for the even higher costs of the rarer and rarer commodity in the future.
If you want to more directly benefit from the open space purchases that you've subsidized, move to the many parts of the state where you can.
"a failure, falling well-short of its goals"
There are few things in politics funnier than when conservatives fight good policy tooth and nail, succeed in limiting the reach of that same good policy,.... and then declare the policy a failure for falling short of its goals.
where does the money go??
"Funds will increase parks and recreational opportunities in all communities, including urban areas."
so...
we will be building new parks in Camden??
The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets. - Will Rogers
btw...
Has anyone here actually tried to buy any of those bonds??
My broker seems to think they have all already been sold before the issue even passes...
The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets. - Will Rogers
Ever live next to open space?
Open space is SO over-rated. I live across the street from Mercer County Park. Each weekday, I have to plan my day around the inevitable traffic jam in front of my house between 5 - 6:30 p.m. They eliminated the bypass road for Edinburg years ago thanks to the open space freaks. There are no private sector jobs in my area, but at least there are trees to look at while I wait an insane amount of time in traffic.
No open space = Whole state looks like Bogata
And nobody wants that
On the brink
Steve is so right on this subject, the democrats run scared! In a state that is on the verge of bankruptcy, all these liberals can think of is spending more and more money, even if they do not have it! Further, they believe that it is perfectly alright to take something from someone if it meets their goal, but do not ever take a right from them! This program is nothing more than a way to take someone's property, pay them no were near what it is worth, and say we did it for the greater good. Why not tell that to the poor, hard working souls in Long Branch that had their beach front property taken from them, in order for some rich idiot to get a "water front condo" and a contributor to the democratic party gets a big pay day. If anything, that property should have been left open and wild, but no, since a profit for the liberal property developer would not have been realized!
Wrong, dick.
The state's open space and farmland preservation programs are completely voluntary. No one can be forced into selling, and in fact, the recent state court restrictions on eminent domain only serve to help ensure that this is the case.
As far as gator goes, I guess he fails to understand that his property is worth significantly more because of its proximity to open space. Further, as someone who lives within minutes of the Route 1 corridor, Princeton, New Brunswick, Route 130, Route 33, the exit 8A business parks and the exit 7A business parks-- yet sees "no" private sector jobs around him-- he must be more blind than Mayor Lonegan.
Thank God for open space, or he literally would never get onto any one of those highways!
Voluntary, I don't think so!
Yes they can be forced to sell, just look at the highlands. If you own land and want to develop it, the environmental nazis will tell you exactly what you can and cannot do with your property. Of course yoiu would have to have some common sense o see this. The only open space that is free in this state is the space between the ears of the liberals in this state. And no, I do not thank God for that. I thank God for leaders like Steve who have the guts to stand up to the liars like Corzine and Cody.
Richard Zuendt
Yeah, if you want to flip
Yeah, if you want to flip burgers, there are private sector jobs in my area. Why eliminate a road for the sake of trees which only creates more traffic to make an area less attractive to live in? That takes real genius on the part of the almighty planners. With all the state spending, the Pharma industry is leaving the state in droves.
Why doesn't the media talk about the other open space? Meaning, there is currently a 20% office space vacancy rate in the Route 1 Corridor/CNJ area.
I'll stick to my guns
It is way to easy to pick on SL. There is nothing more that can be said, he disgraced himself completely. I am amused that he has the gumption to post again after his reputation has been left in shambles (rightfully so, he brought it on himself). Like most of his narrowminded opinions, his stance on open space is short-sighted.
Hit the nail on the head with this one!
I couldn't agree more! In fact I am urging people to vote against all of the ballot questions. They contain nothing more than higher taxes, greater spending, increased debt and forced political correctness. We need to send a message pronto - no more high taxes, spending, and debt! You would have to be an idiot to vote in favor of the questions!
there is more to this
is preserving open space a worthy cause?? sure... i like mr. fox and mr. turtle... i like to take my dog on walks through the reservation... i like my fresh air... i like fishing in a clean lake...
the problem lies in how we are going about doing this... taking on more debt?? idiotic... not even knowing where the money will be spent... even more idiotic... offering secure bonds to wealthy corrupt politicians before the measure even passes?? well... hell... that is beyond my comprehension...
you want to help preserve open space?? find budget CUTS elsewhere... and use that money to fund this...
i'd rather not offer a 200 million dollar bond to some corrupt politician... so that he will in turn sell his own land for a major profit... and collect interest on his "investment" at the same time...
The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets. - Will Rogers
Open spaces
Why does the Record's Jim Ahearn agree w/ Mr. Conservative? BTW, open space is very nice after all the bumper to bumper traffic many of us sit in every day.
alwaysadem
alwaysadem
@alwaysadem
did you even read the proposal???
i swear... i think so many people just see "open space" and think... what a good cause...
try reading it... and look at the previous "open space" success stories... you can find them here: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/greenacres/success_images/overpeck.html
how is putting in a little league baseball field an "open space" success story...
or putting up some statues in Camden...
The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets. - Will Rogers
Pitiful state of NJ
It is pretty pitiful that such a wealthy state like NJ has to borrow 200M. This will get eaten up pretty quick by surveys, administration, engineers, etc.
I'd personally like a few things myself...like fixing a few leaks in my roof. But just like NJ, I'm broke. So I don't buy or fix them right now. Broke is broke. Broke means no spending except food and water. My credit cards are full and so are NJs.
NJ also has numerous pending obligations. The Highland region is a biggie that will require massive expenditures. The state, to date, has left these farmers and residents high and dry.
If this state spends another dime it will start falling like a house of cards.
Why not stick the gun in a better place?
How can you say he disgraced himself? He is one of the few honest politicans who will say what has to be said, not what the party bosses want said. Open spaces sounds great, except it is only another nail in the economic demise of the state of New Jersey.
Richard Zuendt
How can you say he disgraced himself?
How can you say he disgraced himself?
Becauso il esta una hypocrito!!!
I don't think so
Let's see what is said in two years. It is going to be beautiful so see you folks eating your words.
Rchard Zuendt