Say no to Open Space ballot question

Please vote no on Vernon’s Open Space ballot question. We voted to collect a dedicated tax for open space and farmland preservation. This fund has almost $1 million in it. Now, Vernon’s mayor and council want to use the money for more recreational amenities such as disc golf, horseback-riding trails, and other recreation—all of which would incur huge future maintenance and liability costs. Our township has so many more significant needs right now, such as road repairs, water in our town center, the huge burden we taxpayers support for school taxes on the foreclosed properties the township owns, our major taxpayer and resort in bankruptcy, and our huge sewer debt. We simply cannot afford these frivolous recreation wishes at this time.
Most disturbing are the inaccurate and misleading ballot question and interpretive statement. The council voted unanimously to cap the amount for these recreation purposes as a one time, total amount of 30 percent. However, when the clerk wrote the minutes for the meeting and the ballot question, nowhere does it state one time, 30 percent. What do you think will happen as a result? They will say the ballot question did not specify that, and they will try to use more of the money — or future mayors and governing bodies could subject it to interpretation and do whatever they want with that money. Do not believe what they are saying that the residents will have a say in how the money’s spent. We will not. The council alone will decide what to spend the money on. Can you trust this ballot question? I cannot. If you have any doubt, look at the mayor’s record of what he has already done with our money.
Please vote no to giving Mayor Shortway and the Vernon Council your one million dollar open space fund.
Jessi Paladini
Highland Lakes