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Green Township to ask voters whether Open Space funds can cover limited maintenance costs
Summary
The Committee introduced Ordinance 2026-09 to place a non‑binding November referendum asking voters to allow up to 10% of the Open Space Trust Fund (reduced from 30%) to be used for construction and maintenance only if the fund balance exceeds $1,000,000 as of January 1.
On June 15 the Green Township Committee introduced Ordinance 2026-09 to place a non‑binding referendum on the November 2026 ballot asking voters whether to revise permitted uses of the Open Space Trust Fund. The proposed revision would limit annual uses for construction and maintenance to 10% of the fund (down from the current 30%) and require the fund to have a balance greater than $1,000,000 as of January 1 of the year the funds would be used.
Margaret "Peg" Phillips moved to introduce the ordinance and advance it to public hearing on July 20; Bader Qarmout seconded. The Township Attorney explained that the referendum is non‑binding and that the municipality would still need to adopt an ordinance to change the code if voters endorse the proposal. The Committee revised and approved the interpretive statement that will appear on the ballot.
The ordinance’s interpretive statement explicitly notes: "A 'YES' vote will not increase the tax." If the measure proceeds to the ballot, the Sussex County Clerk was requested to print the referendum language and interpretive statement on the November 2026 ballot.
