Sussex County History

“One revived rural community could be the beginning of the renewal of our country. But to be authentic, this would have to be a revival accomplished mainly by the community itself. Done by the ancient rule of neighborliness, by the love of precious things, and by the wish to be at home.” Wendell Berry

Creation of a Funding Source
Sussex County voters supported the establishment of a dedicated tax for open space and farmland preservation on November 7, 2000. The tax passed overwhelmingly with 73% of the vote. A total of 55,104 Sussex County residents voted on the referendum, 40,305 of whom voted “yes” to the question of approving a “non-binding referendum to create the Sussex County Farmland, Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.”1 In July of 2001, Sussex County began collecting the tax at a rate not to exceed $0.02 per $100 of equalized real property valuation. The Sussex County Farmland, Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund (the Trust) generates approximately $2 million per year. Supported by the results of the referendum, the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders allocated 10% of the Trust to open space preservation, and 90% to farmland preservation. The 10% (currently $200,000) of the Trust dedicated to open space preservation is distributed through a competitive grant program open only to Sussex County and the 24 municipalities in Sussex County. Open space preservation grants can be used for a variety of eligible purposes, including the acquisition of: “Land or water areas mostly natural or totally undeveloped to provide: o parkland or green spaces.  public outdoor recreational facilities (active and/or passive)