(TRENTON) — Assemblyman John F. McKeon, prime Assembly sponsor of the $400 million bond issue to fund open space that voters approved with an overwhelming margin of more than 90,000 votes in 2009, said he was disappointed that Gov. Christie failed to address continued funding for land preservation programs in his budget address.
McKeon (D-Essex\Morris) issued the following statement:
“The preservation of open space not only enhances our quality of life but it is key to our long-term economic benefit.
“I am extremely disappointed that the Governor’s Budget message failed to address any future source of funding for what has been the nation’s most successful land preservation program in its most densely populated state.”
In the past 50 years, New Jersey has successfully preserved more than 1.2 million acres of land and an additional 200,000 acres of farmland. The program recently ran out of funding when the final installment of $123 million of the $400 million bond issue was appropriated by the state Legislature.