The Benefits of Open Space (by Melanie Hesse)

The 0.05% earned income tax for open space is an investment in your community and benefits you by protecting the value of your property and the quality of life that you enjoy. The open space fund is a dedicated source of money that cannot be used for other purposes, just the preservation of Elk Township’s special landscapes and way of life.

Elk Township’s Open Space Committee diligently pursues opportunities to work with owners of larger properties (e.g., greater than 10 acres) who are interested in willingly protecting their land. For example, the fourth annual land preservation meeting was held on Thursday, April 28^th at 7 pm at the Township building.

In a township-wide survey conducted in 2005, 90% of respondents expressed support for protecting open space and agriculture in Elk Township.

In 2006, 65%, a comfortable majority of Elk Township voters approved a 0.05% earned income tax to protect open space.

A Cost of Community Services study prepared by the Brandywine Conservancy found that residential development costs more in its need for Township services than the tax revenue it generates ($1.00 generated/ $1.04 cost) than agriculture, which generates $1.00 in revenue and costs the municipality only 4 (four) cents in services.

The tax revenue generated for the Elk Township Open Space fund is dedicated to protect Elk Township lands and benefits Elk Township residents.

Studies show (10,000 Friends of PA and Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission) that property values increase when in close proximity to protected open space and agricultural land.

Protected open space contributes to the economic stability of the municipality.

Municipalities with protected open space generate less vehicular traffic and experience safer roads.

Preserved open space protects the quality and quantity of our water supplies.

Open Space Committee members and Brandywine Conservancy staff (who assist the Township and landowners at low or no cost) have guided a number of these landowners with the grant applications to protect their land. Currently, there are applications pending that, if successful, would permanently protect over 900 acres of Elk’s lands as open space. Over 1,700 acres are already protected, much of which is accessible for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

The County and State grants that could pay for land preservation require 50% match – the open space tax we all pay will be used for this purpose, and only for this purpose. Leveraging our local open space tax to permanently protect land has three distinct benefits:

(1)       It effectively returns those taxes to us that we’d previously paid to higher levels of government.

(2)       Preserving open space preserves farming, Pennsylvania’s #1 industry. It also protects our woods, streams, and meadows, making significant contributions to our health (e.g., filtering pollutants from the water that feeds our wells).