These Bergen County towns, school district will have questions for voters in November

Six Bergen County municipalities and one school district will seek the public's input in November's general election with referendum questions ranging from marijuana to creating open space trust funds and raising taxes for projects.

The deadline to have a question appear on the ballot on Nov. 7 was Aug. 25.

Municipalities that will have questions for voters to decide are Carlstadt, Franklin Lakes, Hackensack, Oakland, Park Ridge, River Vale and Rutherford.

Carlstadt Open Space Trust Fund question

Carlstadt is asking the public to vote on a binding referendum that would create an Open Space Trust Fund. The money would be used to preserve and protect open space and historic properties within the borough.

If approved, the trust fund will be built through the collection of local property taxes of $0.01 per $100 of the assessed value per year for a period not to exceed five years, unless a proposition extending it is approved by the voters.

The funds would be designated for recreation, conservation or historic preservation purposes to be determined after a public hearing.

Franklin Lakes Open Space Trust Fund question

The borough is asking voters to decide on an Open Space Trust Fund.

If it is approved, local property taxes of $0.01 per $100 of the assessed value will be collected per year for a period not to exceed five years, unless voters approve a proposition extending it.

The money would be used for the acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, development of lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes, maintenance of lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes, and payment of debt service on indebtedness issued or incurred by the municipality.

All funds would be deposited into an Open Space Trust Fund and used for no other purpose.

Hackensack Open Space Trust Fund question

The city is asking the public about extending its Open Space Trust Fund, originally approved by voters in 2018. The non-binding question would allow the continuation of the Municipal Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

If voters approve, the trust fund will continue to be funded through the collection of local property taxes of $0.01 per $100 of the assessed value per year for a period not to exceed five years.

The money collected would go toward the acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, maintenance of lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes, historic preservation of historic properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas or objects, and the acquisition of such properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas or objects for historic preservation purposes, Blue Acres projects, or payment of debt service on indebtedness issued or incurred.

"Approving this referendum would authorize the City of Hackensack to continue the Municipal Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund to acquire, develop and maintain lands for recreation, conservation, and historic preservation purposes, provide safe, clean, and accessible parks, and improve neighborhood playgrounds and playfields for youth sports throughout the City," a resolution approving the question said.

The average home in Hackensack, assessed at $320,034, would incur an annual tax of $32. This dedicated tax would be collected and held in an established trust fund until city voters approve a referendum to discontinue it.

More: Will NJ's judicial vacancy crisis extend beyond the fall election? It looks like it

Oakland cannabis and Open Space Trust Fund questions

Oakland will have three questions for voters on the November ballot. The first two are non-binding and will gauge whether residents support cannabis businesses operating in Oakland for both cultivation and related processes and retail sales.

The first question: “Do you support allowing cannabis businesses to operate in the Borough of Oakland for cultivation, manufacturing, wholesaling and distribution of recreational cannabis defined as Class 1, 2, 3, and 4 cannabis licenses by New Jersey state statutes and regulations?”

The second question: “Do you support allowing cannabis businesses to operate in the Borough of Oakland for the retail of sale of recreational cannabis defined as a Class 5 cannabis license by New Jersey state statutes and regulations?”

The third question is a binding referendum on continuing the Open Space Trust Fund, which was originally approved in 2003.

There is no increase in the current rate of tax levy, merely a continuation of the current rate of tax, according to a resolution. That rate would not exceed $0.01 for each $100 of the average assessed home value. The owner of the average home, assessed at $408,700, would pay a yearly open space tax that would not exceed $40.87.

More: Can a second ANCHOR payment help NJ Democrats get over the line in November? | Stile

The total amount of municipal open space tax proceeds is about $300,541.75 per year. An affirmative vote would allow the borough to continue to collect this special levy for a period of 10 years, after which the governing body would again submit a proposition for a public referendum.

If open space is not available for purchase, the fund will be used in accordance with law, including for passive activities such as walking, sitting, picnicking, board and table games, nature walks and observation.

Park Ridge dredging of Mill Pond question

Residents will be asked whether to increase taxes by 5% to facilitate the dredging of Mill Pond, also known as Electric Lake.

The non-binding referendum question will be used as one factor of consideration by the Park Ridge mayor and Borough Council as future dredging options are evaluated and/or implemented, a resolution said.

The mayor and council said residents have expressed a desire to dredge the municipally owned Mill Pond, Electric Lake and Silver Lake, but other residents have expressed concern about the cost.

The borough received an estimate from its engineer that dredging would cost at least $12 million. The borough has received a grant from the state for $1.5 million to help defray the cost.

The borough would have to incur at least $10.5 million in debt and raise property taxes by at least 4.91%. A dredging project would cost the borough at least $15.45 million over the 20-year repayment period, the borough auditor said.

Should Mill Pond not be dredged, the $1.5 million state grant might be eligible for use in other infrastructure projects.

River Vale schools' armed guards question

The River Vale Board of Education is asking the public to approve a $230,000 increase to hire three armed guards for each one of its schools. The cost would also cover training and other associated expenses.

If approved, it would result in a permanent increase in the tax levy.

Rutherford marijuana retail question

Rutherford is seeking the public's input on whether marijuana retail businesses should operate in town.

If approved, the ordinance will allow two cannabis licenses in designated areas along Route 17, per the current zoning restrictions. No retail establishments would be permitted within the borough's Park Avenue and Union Avenue business districts or any portion of Rutherford west of Route 17.

Cannabis products would be subject to the state sales tax and a municipal tax of which the borough would receive 2% of all sales for Class 5 licenses.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: These Bergen County residents will find questions on November's ballot