Preservation Trust Fund

Ballot Report: Preservation Trust Fund Review Committee’s Report in support of the November 4th Ballot Question(PDF, 364KB)

The Preservation Trust Fund is divided into five program areas with Open Space further divided into four sub-program areas as follows:

• County Park Improvement Program
• Historic Preservation program
• Morris County Agriculture Development Board
• Open Space Preservation program allocated as follows:
  • Municipal and/or Qualified Charitable Conservancy projects
  • Morris County Park Commission
  • Morris County M.U.A.
  • Flood Mitigation Program
• Trail Construction Grant Program

Background

On December 22, 1992, the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders (now County Commissioners) established the Morris County Open Space & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund with the voter approval of the 1992 referendum(PDF, 297KB). Collection of funds for the Trust Fund commenced on July 1, 1993 with a tax equal to ½ cent per $100 of total county equalized real property valuation.

The subsequently approved referenda modified the Trust Fund as follows:

• 1998(PDF, 493KB): (2 referenda): Increased maximum collection to 3.0 cents and provided 0.25 cents for the MCPC Improvement Fund
• 2001(PDF, 339KB): Increased maximum collection to 5.25 cents
• 2002(PDF, 243KB): Established the Historic Preservation Fund utilizing 1/8 to 1/4 cent of existing tax
• 2014(PDF, 94KB): Established Trail Development as an eligible activity of the Fund

2025 Funding Allocation

The levy for 2025 is 5/8 cent per $100 valuation and, as approved by County Commissioners Resolutions #2025-143 and #2025-161, adopted February 10, 2025:

• ¼ cent ($.0025) for the County Park Improvement program
• ¼ cent ($.0025) for the Historic Preservation program
• 1/8 cent ($.00125) – to Municipal and/or Qualified Charitable Conservancy projects

Rules and Regulations

Morris County Open Space, Farmland, Floodplain Protection and Historic Preservation Trust Fund Rules and Regulations – Complete set of rules

• Chapter 1 – Introduction
• Chapter 2 – Definitions
• Chapter 3 – Open Space Preservation
• Chapter 4 – Farmland Preservation
• Chapter 5 – Historic Preservation
• Chapter 6 – Flood Mitigation Program
• Chapter 7 – Trail Construction Grant Program
• Chapter 8 – Amendments
• Figure 1 – Open Space Regions
• Figure 2 – Historic Preservation Regions