Resident wants accounting of open space tax money

The Ocean County open space tax is said to generate $12 million to $13 million a year. This tax has been collected from the taxpayers of New Jersey since 2000. More than $100,000,000 has been collected in the past eight years. How is this money being spent?

According to recent records, Jackson (the largest township in Ocean County) has purchased 1,140 acres of preserved land in the last eight years at a cost of $2,900,000. I assume this expenditure is paid for by the open space tax from the county. How is the other $97,000,000 being used?

If there is a surplus and it is not being given to other townships to acquire preserved lands, it should be returned to the taxpayers. Or it can be used for gypsy moth spraying. Or it could be used to fund an impeachment process of Mayor Mark Seda and his "Band of ???"

We continue to pay the highest taxes in the nation, but never get to see how it is spent. The public must wake up and demand more accountability by our politicians. I would appreciate a response from Mayor Seda or a responsible party in Ocean County as to how this money is spent.

Bernard Wohlstetter

Jackson