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From: Waterhouse, Lynn <lynwater@tcnj.edu> <br />Sent: Monday, December 31, 2018 12:56 PM <br />To: Charter Commission <br />NO to Communication 21 for Charter Amendment 7: To GUT the 2% LAND FUND <br />PROGRAM by: <br />1. Reducing the amount deposited in the 2% Land Fund from 2% (approximately $5 million) to <br />34% of property taxes,( which is approximately $1.5 million per year) Remember the Land <br />Fund was approved 3 times by 63% of voters. <br />2. Removing the Maintenance Fund from the charter and placing it in the Code where the <br />County council and Mayor can hack away at the program and amount at each council <br />meeting. Remember the 2% Land Fund had deposits suspended for two years when Mayor <br />Kenoi took office which is why we wanted it in the Charter, where it can only be changed by <br />a vote of the people. <br />3. Deleting the clause that says that the 2% Lands CANNOT be sold mortgaged or transferred <br />in any way. This will limit matching fund sources. Why would donors want to contribute if the <br />Mayor or Council can sell these lands and put the money in the General Fund? Mayor Kim <br />said he wanted to sell the lands because we cannot care for them? Huh? We have a <br />Maintenance Fund! <br />YES to Communication 24 for Charter Amendment 9: Proposal to strengthen the <br />2% Land Fund Program by using 2% Land Fund monies to fund a staff position in <br />the Department of Finance to work ONLY on the 2% Land Fund Program for acquisitions, <br />obtaining matching funds and assisting with stewardship grants. We propose that a dedicated staff <br />person who works ONLY on the 2% Land Fund program will get more properties purchased and <br />acquire more matching funds. Remember that 180 properties have been proposed and only 14 <br />properties have been acquired, since 2006. There is currently $16 million in the fund and much more <br />can be done to actively pursue more properties. A dedicated staff will be able to assist the non -profits <br />who care for these lands in their communities to acquire stewardship grants. <br />1 <br />Comm. No. 24.21 <br />