Delaware County to vote on $120M open space plan

A $120 million question facing voters in Delaware County next week. Should taxpayers borrow millions to protect open space, parks, and waterways? Well, supporters say it's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to preserve what's left of Delco's green space. But, Chris, some opponents say it's just yet another tax increase that residents really cannot afford right now. Well, Dawn, if you live in Delaware County, you know there's not much open space left. That is why county leaders want to borrow $120 million to help protect what is left of this open space like you see here at Rose Tree Park. But some say with property taxes here in the county already on the rise, some say it's too much. It's a little father-son time at Rose Tree Park today. Anthony Patch of Media and his three-year-old son are regulars here. We're here like every day almost and it's very important. He loves going on the slides and just running around the fields. But soon Patch and other Delaware County voters will be asked if they're willing to pay to protect places like this. This funding would give the county the tools that it needs to protect against those development pressures and to protect our last remaining open spaces. It's a 120 million dollar referendum on next Tuesday's ballot. If approved it would allow the county to borrow money to preserve undeveloped lands, protect drinking water, improve parks and help prevent flooding. Some environmental groups are backing the plan saying Delaware County is running out of land to save. Sometimes protecting open spaces, building trails protecting waterways building riparian buffers protecting woodlands investments in controlling flooding and storm water all things that make quality of life better but there is a price tag county officials estimate the borrowing would cost about 24 a year for a property assessed at 400 000 and after county property taxes increased more than 50 percent over the past few years. Critics say enough is enough. We have to draw a line in the sand. I hate that I have to draw a line for something that I love. I love green space. I'm a huge birder. Critics say the county could also raise taxes again when it adopts its new budget. Some say taking on another 120 million dollars in debt is irresponsible. I can't continue to watch as we see more and more tax increases. And there's the possibility that Delaware County Council could increase taxes based off of its own budget this December. Honestly, this is a way for us to go to our voters and say, is this worth this amount of tax increase? Is it worth it to you to protect, to make these investments in this incredibly important green infrastructure? Now, if voters approve the referendum, it doesn't mean the county will borrow that 120 million dollars all at once. The ballot question also calls for independent audits and specific projects to be outlined in this Voters' Don will have the final say. Election day next Tuesday, all right Chris, we'll see what they have to say. Thank Thank you.