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Ballot Questions

Bedminster Township Land Preservation Referendum


"Shall debt be authorized to be incurred as debt approved by the electors in one (1) or more increments over a ten (10) year period, and not to exceed the sum of Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000.00) in the aggregate, for the purpose of financing the acquisition of open space; for the purpose of acquiring agricultural conservation easements; for the purpose of acquiring property development rights; and for the purpose of acquiring recreation or historic lands or buildings?"

YES or NO

Plain English Version: The ballot question asks the voters of Bedminster Township whether the Township should borrow up to Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000.00) over a ten (10) year period to purchase land or an interest in land to preserve open, undeveloped land in Bedminster Township. The Township would use the money to do one (1) or more of the following:

1. Finance the acquisition of open space: The Township would purchase undeveloped
land or farmland from land owners in the Township and would restrict the land from development.

2. Acquire agricultural or natural resource conservation easements: The Township would purchase agricultural or natural resource conservation easements or participate in state
or county land preservation programs which acquire agricultural or natural resource easements. A conservation easement prevents a land owner from developing his/her land
but allows the land owner to retain his/her land for farming or conservation purposes.

3. Acquire property development rights: Under this option, a land owner would sell some or all of the development rights in a property to the Township, thereby reducing density for future development. The land owner would retain the property, but once the development rights are sold, the development of the property would be limited.

4. Acquire recreation or historic lands: The Township would purchase land or interests in
land for recreational activities or historic preservation purposes.

A vote of "YES" to the ballot question approves borrowing money for these purposes.