McKEON: SIGNING OF BALLOT MEASURE EMPOWERS VOTERS TO FUND OPEN SPACE IN NOVEMBER ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT CHAIR SAYS N.J. IN 'RACE AGAINST TIME' TO PREVENT URBAN SPRAWL, CONFIDENT VOTERS WILL ACT AS RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF ENVIRONMENT  (NEWARK) - Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee chairman John F. McKeon welcomed today's signing of his open space ballot measure by Governor Jon S. Corzine.The measure (A-3901\S1858) authorizes a ballot question to be put before voters in November to approve $400 million in state funding to preserve open space by issuing general obligation bonds. It was approved with strong bipartisan support in the Legislature earlier this year. "By putting his imprimatur on the open space ballot question measure, our Governor has courageously demonstrated his long-standing commitment to the environment. This measure empowers New Jersey voters to make an investment in our future, and allowing this crucial program to languish is an expense New Jerseyans simply cannot afford," McKeon (D-Essex) said. McKeon lauded the bi-partisan support for his measure in the Legislature."The vast majority of Democrats and Republicans representing the north, south, urban and suburban regions of our state voted in favor of placing this referendum on the ballot to give New Jersey citizens a choice to fund open space in November," McKeon said. He noted that the economic and ecological impact of funding open space is critical for New Jersey's future. "Loss of land and in particular sources of freshwater is permanent and irreversible. As the most densely populated state in the nation, we are in a race against time to protect and preserve our natural resources including our state's pristine watersheds, valuable farmland, historic sites and flood-prone areas. With land values at a historic low, there has never been a better time to maximize our ability to purchase open space." McKeon pointed out that without viable open space preservation funding, the cost of providing fresh water to state residents from the Highlands region alone could run into the billions of dollars over the next few years. This includes the cost of treating contaminants. Failure to preserve flood-prone areas could also run into millions in property damage.According to the New Jersey Highlands Council, approximately 19,000 more acres of the most critical land in the Highlands' Special Environment Zones must be protected in order to minimally 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 in the Highlands region are protected under the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act McKeon sponsored in 2004. McKeon said the passage of the $400 million open space bond referendum amounts to an investment of about $10 per year for each New Jersey household. A recent DEP study reveals a 10 to 1 return on investment in open space. "Open space boosts New Jersey's agriculture and tourism industries and encourages redevelopment. It preserves the state's natural capital estimated at about $680 billion at total value or $20 billion per year," McKeon said.Ecotourism is the fastest growing component of New Jersey's lucrative tourism industry that posted revenues of $38.8 billion dollars in 2008, the second-highest from the record $39.5 billion in 2007."Having lost half of its farmland since 1950, our state can ill-afford to sacrifice additional acreage to sprawl. By preserving valuable tracks of land, we are also encouraging redevelopment and rehabilitation of neighborhoods."The $400 million bond issue - also known as the Green Acres, Water Supply, and Floodplain Protection and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009 - will replenish the Garden State Preservation Trust that funds open space and has run out of money. The measure now goes to the voters in November. "The citizens of New Jersey have acted as responsible stewards of the environment. I am confident that the ballot measure will pass with an overwhelming majority in November." New Jersey voters have approved 13 consecutive bond measures since the first Green Acres Bond Act was passed in 1961. In November 2007, voters approved a ballot question to provide $200 million in state funding to preserve open space, prevent sprawl and purchase flood-prone areas.  ### Contact: Gita Bajaj (973) 224-4851 cellular