(June 25, 2009) -- Burlington County Freeholder Christopher J. Brown today voiced his support for the bi-partisan decision of the New Jersey State Senate Budget Committee to place a $400 million open space bond proposal on the November ballot."I applaud the efforts of the Budget Committee to give voters a say in the State's Open Space program," Brown said, “as I believe it is a core responsibility of State government to maintain a strong Open Space program.”Brown said that, over the years, the combination of dedicated open space, preserved farmland and the extensive state park system has helped New Jersey maintain its air and water quality, harness out-of-control development and keep taxes for local services relatively stable."I also believe," Brown said, "that if the referendum should pass, it will help county and municipal governments right size their open space trust accounts to fit the current economic conditions."Right now, the real estate market has roughly a 14-month supply of homes on the market," Brown continued. "Builders have land banked hundreds of undeveloped but approved lots and, with the credit markets frozen, no new development will be taking place for some time.”Freeholder Brown also said that if the $400 million state referendum passes in November, it also will relieve some stress on Burlington County government and municipalities. “That would,” he said, “give the county and our municipalities an excellent temporary opportunity in the next year, through right sizing, to give real tax relief to our residents.“Those of us who have been given the public trust must be sure we are making the right choices when we spend the public's money,” Brown said. “The best way to do that is to present such issues to the voters, which is exactly what the State Senate Budget Committee has done.”#     #     #