MCKEON WELCOMES ADVANCING OF 'OPEN SPACE' BALLOT QUESTION MEASURE IN ASSEMBLY BUDGET PANEL ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT CHAIR SAYS BOND ISSUE OF $400 MILLION HELPS STATE GO FORWARD TO GIVE VOTERS CHOICE ON FUNDING (TRENTON) - Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee chairman John F. McKeon today welcomed the advancing of his open space ballot question measure in an Assembly panel.McKeon's measure (A-3901) to empower voters to replenish the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT) that funds open space was released today by the Assembly Budget Committee with amendments in a 12-0 vote with one abstention. The amendments include a lower amount of $400 million for the bond issue.The GSPT runs out of money in July. "We cannot afford a break in funding. We have a finite amount of land available in New Jersey including farmland and sources of fresh water that would be permanently lost if we did not acquire them for open space," McKeon (D-Essex) said. "We also have an unprecedented opportunity of historic lows in property values." Earlier, at a press conference organized by the 'Keep It Green Coalition,' McKeon told reporters that considering the importance of giving voters the choice of funding open space and its economic value, he had worked closely with the leadership in the Assembly, Senate and the Governor's office to come up with a workable solution of a significantly lower amount for the bond issue.He said he was grateful to Speaker Roberts, Senate President Codey and Governor Corzine for their leadership and support of this worthwhile initiative."For every dollar we spend, New Jersey will get 10 back," McKeon said. "It is money we cannot afford not to spend, especially in areas such as the Highlands where approximately 19,000 more acres of the most critical land in the Special Environment Zones must be preserved in order to protect the state's drinking water." The Highlands is the source of fresh water for more than half the state's residents and open space preservation is an important component of protecting that water supply. Thousands of acres of land in the Highlands region are protected under the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act McKeon sponsored in 2004. "Open Space delivers a high economic yield to our state including saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in water purification costs every year and providing a much-needed stimulus to our agriculture and tourism industries," McKeon said. "In a week that lawmakers map out New Jersey's financial road for the next year, it is heartening that we have moved forward to give voters the choice to protect and continue our significant investment in open space." The $400 million bond issue would put the annual cost of funding open space at $10 per average household.###Contact: Gita Bajaj (973) 224-4851 cellular