• $218 million would be appropriated to the Green Acres program for open space purchases as well as park improvements and facilities;

   • $146 million would be dedicated for farmland preservation;

   • $24 million would be used for the Blue Acres floodplain program, under which the state may purchase, from willing sellers, properties that are prone to or have incurred flood or storm damage, for open space preservation purposes;

   • And $12 million would go toward historic preservation.

   The Green Acres program is a key source of funding for both municipalities and nonprofit groups for purchases to preserve open space.

Pro And Con

   Supporters say open space and historic preservation provide numerous benefits, such as attractions for tourism, safeguarding the water supply, and protection of wildlife diversity, while farmland preservation supports an economically viable agricultural industry, according to a synopsis of the issue by the New Jersey League of Women Voters.

   Land costs are also relatively low right now because of the recession, supporters say, adding that the use of a bond issue allows the state to purchase additional open space without increasing taxes.

   The primary reasons not to support the measure are that the state already has too much debt and the state’s finances are in terrible shape, according to the League of Women Voters’ synopsis.

   What’s more, opponent say, if certain purchases are considered critical, alternative funding mechanisms could be chosen for them that do not involve additional borrowing, the League said.

   New Jersey voters, however, have been well disposed toward open space funding on previous statewide bond issues, having approved all 12 of the open space questions placed on statewide ballots since 1961.

    The Madison Borough Council and its neighbor, the Chatham Borough Council, have approved resultions supporting the open space ballot question, urging voters to pass it.