WeConservePA: PA Voters Approved All 5 Local Referendums On The November Ballot Making $96 Million Available For Open Space Conservation

On November 13, WeConservePA reported all five local referendums on the ballot November 5 were passed by voters contributing over $96 million for open space, farmland, forests and recreation.

Voters in three Pennsylvania townships in the fall 2024 election voted to enact open space taxes and borrow money to conserve open space. 

Voters approved open space taxes in another two municipalities in spring 2024. 

Four of 2024’s votes were for open space taxes on income or property and one for a bond issue. 

Votes in favor ranged from 54% to 69%.

For three townships, these were the first referendums of this kind:

-- Chester – East Whiteland Township (Property and Income tax)

-- Chester – Uwchlan Township             (Income tax)

-- Lehigh – Whitehall Township             (Property tax)

For Lower Makefield Township in Bucks, this was its third referendum leveraging a bond, which passed with 69% approval. The past two were passed in 1998 for $7.5 million and $15 million in 2008. 

Heidelberg Township in Lehigh County successfully passed an earned income tax increase with a 57% approval after its 2007 attempt failed.

For more information visit the Municipal Open Space Programs and Referendums library.

Read the Status Report on Local Municipal Open Space Referendums in Pennsylvania.

Click Here for the complete WeConservePA report.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the WeConservePA website, Click Here to sign up for regular updates from WeConservePA, Like them on Facebook, and Follow them on Twitter.  Click Here to support their work.

The 2025 PA Land Conservation Conference will be held April 2-4 in State College.

More than 114,800 Pennsylvanians contribute to local land trusts.

Upcoming Learn & Network Events

-- WeConservePA: Look for Upcoming Learn & Network Events

Resource Link:

-- WeConservePA - 3rd Edition Of The Stewardship Handbook  [New]

Related Articles This Week:

-- DCNR Announces $79.4 Million In Grants To Support 307 Recreation, Land Conservation, Tree Planting Projects Across Pennsylvania; Next Grant Round Opens Jan. 21  [PaEN]  

-- DCNR Grants Update: Grant Application Workshops Available; Conservation Easement Assistance Grants; Other Funding Opportunities 

NewsClips:

-- Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown Gets State Grant To Make Stonycreek, Little Conemaugh, Conemaugh Rivers More Accessible

-- Erie Times: DCNR Grants To Asbury Woods, Erie County Parks Will Fund Pickleball Courts, Playgrounds, More

-- Altoona Mirror: Youngs Woods Park, Susquehanna River Walk Extension Projects Get DCNR Grants

[Posted: November 14, 2024]  PA Environment Digest