Both the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Programs are funded partially through grants administered by the State Agriculture Development Committee and the New Jersey Green Acres Program.  While there currently is no permanently dedicated State funding source for land preservation activities, temporary funding was made available through a $400 million dollar Bond Act approved by New Jersey's voters in 2009.  $200 million dollars of this Bond Act was approved for use in 2011, with the remaining $200 million dollars to be appropriated in 2013.  Gloucester County anticipates the receipt of approximately $6.75 million dollars of this last State allocation, and for the third straight year was the first county in the State to be approved for its maximum funding amount.

Gloucester County also uses a voter-supported County Open Space Tax for land preservation acquisitions.  The original 1-cent tax to fund the County's preservation efforts was overwhelming approved by a two thirds majority vote by residents in 1993.  The voters again approved an additional 1-cent supplement to the County fund in 2000, passed by the same majority.  In 2004 voters approved an additional 2-cent supplement to the fund, indicating their support of the County's land preservation efforts. 

In addition the Freeholder Board has passed a number of bond acts over the years as needed to supplement the County fund.  The most recent of these was in 2009 when the Freeholder Board allocated $38 million dollars for land preservation efforts, with a portion of this still available for our current projects.  This tactic has allowed the County to make timely settlements on farms and open space, with the subsequent State reimbursement funding used to pay off the bonds.  By implementing this proactive tactic, which required no new taxes to be imposed on the County's residents, the Freeholder Board has been able to ensure our landowners settle with Gloucester County first; not developers.