Agenda - 02-13-2001-3b - Laserfiche WebLink

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DuPage Countiy, Illinois: --- ~.ores~ Preserve Dilstiri.cti . ~ . ~~~ .$~75 Million General Obligatiion`Bond'Referend~m . ~ . ~ ~ . . Residents of a•Chicago suburb support a property tax irticrease to curb sprawl and protect duality of life. "TPC combines a~ understanding ~ ~ hat's all there is, folks. When iti's gone, there ain't no moze," of Local issues with a national Tremaxked William Maio; member of the DuPa e Forest g perspective on public finance preserve District, about dwindling open space in~the fast-growing. referendurijs..Weie truly thankful . • Chicago suburb..Maio was urging the district's commissioners to for their contribution to our . winning campaign and their ~ ~ place on the ballot a $75 million bond referendum that would be used dedication to open space ~ ~ to purchase 2,300 acres of land for open space. The all-Republican protection." Commission, who. also .make up the county board, were known for Brook McDonald, . their efforts to hold down property faxes.. But this time; ppen space Exec°"ve Direct°` ~ protection took precedence end the board referred the measure to the The Conservation Foundation • ~ ' ballot. The bond would cost the owner of a $100,Ob0 home an addi- . ~ tional $15 a year in property taxes. .. Commissioners understood that public concern about suburban spxawl, traffic; and loss of open space was at an all-time high. Residents had seen the county change • ~ ~ quickly: since 1990, opera space in DuPage County had been developing at a rate of - 3,000 acres'a year. The bond would pay to preserve 8 percent of the county's remain- ' ing open space, through a combination of land acquisition and purchase of conser- ' • vation. easements. ~ • 'Once the measuFe was on the ballot, the Conservation ~'oundatian, a nonprofit regional land conservation organization, spearheaded a campaign to win voter approval. The Conservation Foundation contacted the Trust for Public Land for help. Here's ' ~ how TPL'warked with the foundation and other community supportexs to help pass the DuPage Forest Preserve District band referendum. . • Campaign management The Conservation Foundation formed a campaign . committee called Neighbors for Qpen Space. TPL. worked with this committee to get ' ~ the campaign underway, advising an organization, scheduling, direct mail, polling, . and federal lobbying laws. • (continued) i T H E TRUST P O R PUBLIC L `~ N D National.Office 116 New Montgomery Street, 4th'Floor, San Francisco, CA_94105, 1 _800.714-LAND, www.tpl.org