Open Space Fund Spending Concerns Bloomingdale Councilwoman

One Bloomingdale Council member is airing concerns about how money generated through the borough's Recreation and Open Space Establishment (ROSE) Fund is being used and hoping to see more money designated for open space used for such, according to Suburban Trends.

Councilwoman Linda Shortman spoke of her objections to ROSE Fund money from the open space portion of the fund being used to pay interest fees on the Walter T. Bergen School lighting project at the Bloomingdale Council's June 25 meeting, the Trends reported. Shortman would rather see the money used to pay the interest on the $400,000 project come from the discretionary fund and the open space money be used for open space-related expenses, according to the newspaper.

ROSE Fund money is collected as a separate tax on Bloomingdale taxpayers' bills after voters approved the fund by referendum in 2001. For the past several years, the ROSE Fund Advisory Board and council have discussed allocations to each portion of the fund, and what percentage of money should be dedicated to recreation and open space, respectively. Two other categories of the fund also collect money from the tax: recreation maintenance and discretionary. 

Shortman said she would like to see open space money used more for open space projects in the borough, such as open space preservation or potential acquisition of the Kings Corner property on Main Street, the Trends reported.