Voters Approve Millions For Local Parks And Natural Areas
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Voters across the nation approved local and state ballot measures providing hundreds of millions of dollars for land conservation, parks, and restoration, The Trust for Public Land announced Tuesday night. Many of the ballot measures called for tax increases or bonds.
There were more than eighty local protection measures on the ballot and it appears the majority passed, said Will Rogers, President of The Trust for Public Land.
"Tonight, we saw again that while American voters are divided on many issues, parks and natural areas are an issue that we can all agree on. Whether they were voting for 'red' or 'blue' candidates, voters are 'green' – they want local parks and close-to-home places for recreation and they're willing to pay for them."
In early returns, 13 of 18 measures on the ballot have been approved by voters, a passage rate of 72 percent. A list of ballot measures with results so far is attached.
Earlier in 2016, 14 of 17 park and land conservation ballot measures passed, creating $3.3 billion for parks and open space.
"This approval rate isn't surprising, since over the past 20 years, we've consistently seen that more than 75 percent of local and state conservation ballot measures are approved, often by landslide margins," said Rogers, whose organization is the national leader in helping cities, counties, and states pass funding measures for parks and land conservation.
- One major victory Tuesday came in Boston, where voters opted by a 64 percent to 36 percent to join Massachusetts' Community Preservation Act, a statewide program which provides matching funds for local parks and open space, affordable housing, and historic preservation. Boston voters approved a 1 percent surcharge on city property taxes that is estimated to raise $20 million annually. Boston voters overwhelming voted for Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate for U.S. President.
Voters in Florida, Ohio, and Colorado showed their support for parks and conservation, approving ballot measures regardless of the choice for President.
- Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, overwhelmingly carried Lee County and Brevard County, Florida. On the same ballot Lee County (84-16% and Brevard County (62-38%) voters approved measures to provide funding for land conservation and restoration.
- In Alachua County, Florida, voter picked Hillary Clinton for President and also approved a ½-cent sales tax for parks and protecting environmentally sensitive land by 60-40%.
- Donald Trump easily won voter support in metro Cincinnati's Clermont County, while voters there also overwhelmingly approved new funding for parks, by 63-37%
The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live near a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.
| State |
Jurisdiction Name |
Finance Mechanism |
Park and Open |
Results: Percent Yes |
Results: Percent No |
| AZ |
Peoria |
Sales tax |
$114,962,200 |
||
| CA |
Los Angeles County |
Parcel tax |
$1,890,000,000 |
||
| CA |
Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District |
Parcel tax |
$24,000,000 |
||
| CA |
Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority (FF) |
Parcel tax |
$2,892,000 |
||
| CA |
Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority (GG) |
Parcel tax |
$11,940,000 |
||
| CA |
Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District |
Sales tax |
$112,000,000 |
||
| CA |
Oakland |
Bond |
$35,000,000 |
||
| CA |
San Diego County |
Sales tax |
$2,000,000,000 |
||
| CA |
Sonoma County |
Sales tax |
$100,000,000 |
||
| CO |
Basalt |
Bond |
$3,800,000 |
||
| CO |
Boulder County |
Sales tax |
$56,250,000 |
||
| CO |
Eagle County |
Property tax |
$67,500,000 |
||
| CO |
Grand County |
Sales tax |
$7,500,000 |
||
| CO |
Pitkin County |
Property tax |
$200,000,000 |
||
| CT |
Glastonbury |
Bond |
$3,000,000 |
||
| CT |
Manchester |
Bond |
$4,000,000 |
||
| CT |
Watertown |
Bond |
$550,000 |
||
| CT |
Wolcott |
Bond |
$325,000 |
||
| FL |
Alachua County |
Sales tax |
$119,200,000 |
60% |
40% |
| FL |
Brevard County |
Sales tax |
$340,000,000 |
62% |
38% |
| FL |
Lee County |
Property tax |
N/A |
84% |
16% |
| GA |
Johns Creek |
Bond |
$40,000,000 |
||
| GA |
Milton |
Bond |
$25,000,000 |
||
| IA |
Linn County |
Bond |
$40,000,000 |
||
| MA |
Amesbury |
Property tax |
$1,695,638 |
41% |
59% |
| MA |
Billerica |
Property tax |
$5,241,911 |
||
| MA |
Boston |
Property tax |
$133,333,333 |
64% |
36% |
| MA |
Chelsea |
Property tax |
$3,718,496 |
66% |
34% |
| MA |
Danvers |
Property tax |
$5,435,866 |
||
| MA |
East Bridgewater |
Property tax |
$1,844,444 |
40% |
60% |
| MA |
Holyoke |
Property tax |
$3,072,132 |
56% |
44% |
| MA |
Hull |
Property tax |
$2,569,535 |
||
| MA |
Norwood |
Property tax |
$3,619,381 |
61% |
39% |
| MA |
Palmer |
Property tax |
$841,079 |
||
| MA |
Pittsfield |
Property tax |
$2,557,417 |
63% |
37% |
| MA |
Rockland |
Property tax |
$2,203,666 |
||
| MA |
South Hadley |
Property tax |
$1,442,294 |
48% |
52% |
| MA |
Springfield |
Property tax |
$7,062,014 |
||
| MA |
Watertown |
Property tax |
$12,726,335 |
||
| MA |
Wrentham |
Property tax |
$1,563,544 |
68% |
32% |
| MD |
Baltimore County |
Bond |
$2,000,000 |
||
| MO |
Missouri |
Sales tax |
$780,000,000 |
||
| NC |
Asheville |
Bond |
$17,000,000 |
||
| NC |
Charlotte |
Bond |
$25,000,000 |
||
| NJ |
Beach Haven Borough |
Property tax |
$3,343,331 |
48% |
52% |
| NJ |
Colts Neck Township |
Property tax |
$14,000,000 |
||
| NJ |
East Amwell Township |
Other |
N/A |
||
| NJ |
Fanwood Borough |
Property tax |
$456,976 |
||
| NJ |
Haddonfield Borough |
Property tax |
$2,400,000 |
||
| NJ |
Harvey Cedars |
Property tax |
$2,400,000 |
52% |
48% |
| NJ |
Jersey City |
Property tax |
$24,000,000 |
||
| NJ |
Northvale Borough |
Property tax |
$415,000 |
||
| NJ |
Oldmans Township |
Property tax |
$466,233 |
||
| NJ |
Park Ridge Borough |
Property tax |
$561,955 |
||
| NJ |
Robbinsville Township |
Property tax |
$7,316,017 |
||
| NJ |
Secaucus |
Property tax |
$5,113,236 |
||
| NJ |
Teaneck Township |
Property tax |
$2,008,445 |
||
| NJ |
Tenafly Borough |
Property tax |
$3,900,000 |
||
| NJ |
Union County |
Property tax |
$70,391,880 |
||
| NJ |
Washington Borough |
Property tax |
$371,205 |
||
| NJ |
Wyckoff Township |
Property tax |
$1,155,225 |
||
| NY |
East Hampton |
Real estate transfer tax |
$464,000,000 |
||
| NY |
Riverhead |
Real estate transfer tax |
$59,200,000 |
||
| NY |
Shelter Island |
Real estate transfer tax |
$32,000,000 |
||
| NY |
Southampton |
Real estate transfer tax |
$960,000,000 |
||
| NY |
Southold |
Real estate transfer tax |
$100,800,000 |
||
| OH |
Clermont County Park District |
Property tax |
$21,285,570 |
63% |
37% |
| OH |
Columbus |
Bond |
$110,000,000 |
||
| OH |
Granville Township |
Property tax |
$1,599,050 |
||
| OH |
Great Parks of Hamilton County |
Property tax |
$183,483,760 |
||
| OR |
Portland Metro |
Property tax |
$80,700,000 |
||
| PA |
Lower Moreland Township |
Income tax |
$16,000,000 |
||
| PA |
Lower Saucon Township |
Income tax |
$5,000,000 |
||
| PA |
Newlin Township |
Property tax |
$380,000 |
||
| PA |
Richland Township |
Income tax |
$1,600,000 |
||
| PA |
Smithfield Township |
Bond |
$2,000,000 |
||
| PA |
Upper Milford Township |
Income tax |
$7,200,000 |
||
| RI |
Rhode Island |
Bond |
$22,000,000 |
||
| SC |
Charleston County |
Sales tax |
$210,000,000 |
||
| UT |
Lehi |
Bond |
$50,000,000 |
||
| UT |
Park City |
Bond |
$25,000,000 |
||
| VA |
Arlington County |
Bond |
$19,310,000 |
||
| VA |
Fairfax County |
Bond |
$107,000,000 |
||
| WA |
Bellingham |
Property tax |
$10,560,000 |
||
| WA |
Eastmont Metropolitan Park District |
Bond |
$4,000,000 |
||
| WA |
Mason County Metropolitan Parks District |
Property tax |
$24,000,000 |
||
| Total Park and Open Space Funds at Stake |
$8,866,264,168 |
||||
*This list contains measures with at least some funding for parks and open space protection. For more information, visit LandVote.org
SOURCE The Trust For Public Land
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