Morris County
Preservation Trust |
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What is the Morris County Preservation Trust?
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On December 22, 1992, the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders established the Morris
County Open Space & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.
Collection of funds for the Trust Fund commenced on July 1, 1993 with a tax equal to one-half cent per $100
of total county equalized real property valuation. The County Freeholders review the tax rate annually
and may set the tax anywhere from $0.00 to $0.05. The levy for 2012 has been set at 1.25 cents.
The following referenda have been approved by the voters:
• 1992: Established the Trust Fund with a 2.0 cent maximum
• 1998 (2 referenda): Increased maximum collection to 3.0 cents and provided 0.25 cents for the MCPC Improvement Fund
• 2001: Increased maximum collection to 5.25 cents
• 2002: Established the Historic Preservation Fund utilizing 1/8 to 1/4 cent of existing tax
The Fund is divided into six areas as follows:
• 20% to the Morris County Park Commission
• 5% to the Morris County M.U.A.
• 25% to the Morris County Agriculture Development Board for farmland preservation projects
• 25% to municipal and/or qualified charitable conservancy for
open space preservation projects
• 20% to discretionary projects within any of the above categories (to date, these funds have been earmarked for open space grants
to municipalities and non-profit organizations)
• 5% to ancillary county costs associated with the preservation of open space, farmland and
historic resources, to purchase lands for wetland creation, restoration, or enhancement, and to preserve
historic resources
Further information on the programs of the Morris County Preservation Trust can be found at the:
• Open Space Preservation Program Rules and Regulations
• Farmland Preservation Program Policies
• Historic Preservation Program Rules and Regulations
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Morris County Preservation Trust
Morris County Department of Planning & Development
P.O. Box 900
Morristown, NJ 07963-0900
Phone: (973) 829-8120
Fax: (973) 326-9025
Office located at: 30 Schuyler Place, Morristown, NJ
Directions to our office |