Voters Approve Doubling the Open Space Trust Fund Levy in Ridgewood General Election
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood voters have spoken! The highly debated Open Space Trust Fund public question was approved by a decisive margin in the November 4, 2025 General Election, signaling the community’s commitment to prioritizing land acquisition and park improvements.
The unofficial results from Ridgewood show the measure passed with 3,376 “Yes” votes versus 2,634 “No” votes.
This referendum effectively doubles the existing Open Space levy, a tax rate that had remained unchanged for 24 years, from approximately half a penny to one penny per $100 of assessed property value.
What the Tax Hike Means for Ridgewood Homeowners
The approved measure represents a “modest but significant” increase for property owners, dedicated solely to the Open Space Trust Fund.
- The Increase: The levy increases by half a cent, from $0.005 to $0.01 per $100 of assessed value.
- Cost Breakdown: For a property with the average assessed value of $712,700 in the Village, the annual tax increase will be approximately $35.64.
This dedicated funding stream is now significantly bolstered, intended for the “acquisition, preservation, improvement, and protection of park and recreational property.”
The Great Debate: Preservation vs. Recreation
The referendum ignited a fierce debate over the true purpose of the Open Space funds.
- Proponents (The “Yes” Vote): Supporters successfully argued that the increased funds are vital for proactive land acquisition—buying up remaining parcels before they fall to developers and become housing or commercial strip malls. Councilmember Siobhan Winograd championed the fund, citing past successes like the Habernickel and Schedler properties, which were preserved thanks to the existing levy.
- The Controversy (The “No” Vote): Opponents raised concerns that a significant portion of the increased funds would be diverted away from genuine natural preservation toward the development of controversial new recreational facilities, particularly artificial turf fields, an issue that has been a flashpoint in local politics.
With the public question passing, the focus now shifts to the Open Space Committee and the Village Council, who are tasked with allocating the significantly increased budget toward the community’s parkland needs.
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Considering the consequences, the town should never have purchased the Habernickel property.
Referenda tend to pass partly because voters have not done their homework. On the surface this one seemed like a no-brainer. But when (not enough) people thought about what it could mean in the hands of those currently in charge, many changed their minds and voted No.
Saying something passed because voters are uninformed is insulting to the voting public. Maybe your position is just in the minority opinion of what the ridgewood residents want. Gotta love democracy.