Voters may be asked about spending $120 million for open space
Voters may get the chance to say whether county council can spend $120 million on open space and environmentally-related projects should council approve a referendum today.
Delaware County Council members are anticipated to vote on a resolution today that would put the question of whether they should obtain a $120 million bond for these types of projects on the ballot on Nov. 3.
"This is not a referendum to actually take on the debt," Delaware County Solicitor Lee Awbrey emphasized. "It is a referendum whether or not we're going to put it forward to the voters so that they can provide direct feedback on whether or not they would like the county to pursue that bond."
The resolution being considered would ask the voters "whether they favor an increase in the debt of the County by an amount not to exceed $120 million to finance land conservation, including protecting drinking water sources, water quality in rivers and creeks, and wildlife habitat; conserving trees and wetlands; providing greenways and parks; and protecting natural areas from development."
Council members were brief in their remarks at Tuesday's agenda meeting, noting they were reserving comments until the regular meeting today.
However, Council Member Elaine Paul Schaefer said she wanted to note the importance of the vote on this referendum resolution.
"In my opinion," she said, "this council as done a few really big things since we have been seated in the last five or six years and this particular item is one of those big things that will have lasting generational impact and positive impact in this county."
Council Vice Chair Christine Reuther asked the solicitor if approved whether this funding could support the Green Ways Grant Program.
The Green Ways program was started in 2019 as a way in which the county could award $20 million to municipalities across the county to complete a variety or projects, such as trail or community park improvements.
In four yearly rounds, the program was able to help fund 118 different projects, which were matched with more than $40 million of alternative sources of funding, often municipal, to complete the projects.
Due to a lack of funding, the program was stalled in 2023.
Reuther wanted certainty that these funds could once again be allocated to municipal projects, should the question be placed on the ballot and then receive a majority approval.
"I just want to make sure that from your perspective this language is broad enough not just to encompass things done by the county but to allow us to continue the Green Way Grants Program," Reuther said to Awbrey.
She said that was one of the main impetuses from her consideration.
"That's what we're asking our residents to look at and to let us know if that's something they feel we can continue," Reuther said.
Awbrey said the language does include this contemplated intended use.
"I do feel confident that it covers those uses," she said.
Reuther said that should this move forward, she wanted it to be clear to voters that this would allow the county to support initiatives of this manner whether it's by municipalities or municipal authorities or whoever is working on these types of issues for the benefit of county residents.
If the measure makes it to the ballot, it needs to receive more than 50% voter approval to pass.
Approximately two years ago, the county engaged the Trust for Public Land to conduct a feasibility assessment to determine if a Conservation Finance Measure would be feasible for the county.
In 1996, a similar effort to obtain a $100 million bond for open space preservation and green projects was struck down by voters. Part of that was due to a concern about the balance of cost and who would benefit most from the initiative.
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published July 15, 2026 at 11:08 AM.