PRESS RELEASE           

Gallatin County citizens launch campaign to protect open space

For immediate release - September 18, 2000

CONTACT:  Sunny Mavor, Vote YES for Open Space Campaign, (406) 522-8105 or mavor@mcn.net

Bozeman, Montana - Gallatin County citizens announce the launch of the Vote YES for Open Space Campaign to pass a $10 million bond measure to preserve valuable open space throughout Gallatin County.

If passed, the open space bond will authorize the County, guided by the citizen-led Open Lands Board, to purchase land or conservation easements and development rights from willing landowners who voluntarily participate in the program.  Open Space bond proceeds will be used throughout Gallatin County to protect land along rivers and streams; farm and ranchland; wildlife habitat and to provide for parks and recreation areas.  The cost to county taxpayers will be $28 on a $100,000 home.  Local funds can be matched with additional dollars available from both private and public sources.

"With Gallatin County's population potentially doubling in the next twenty years, now is the time to protect our rivers and streams, farm and ranchland, wildlife habitat and parks," according to Sunny Mavor, chair of the Vote YES for Open Space campaign.

This bond measure is the result of work done by the county appointed Open Lands Board, and its predecessor the Open Space Task Force, which researched all available options for protecting open space in Gallatin County.  A bond, financed through property taxes, is currently the only option available to Montana counties to fund open space protection.  In a poll commissioned by the Open Lands Board, 68% of Gallatin County voters said they would support a bond measure to protect of open space and agricultural lands.  The Open Lands Board reflects the diversity of county residents, with members representing agriculture, business, conservation, and private citizens.

"Protecting Gallatin County's rural lifestyle and agricultural economy depends on preserving farm and ranchlands," says Del Kamerman, a Gallatin Valley dairy farmer.  "This bond measure creates a tool to achieve this goal before our rural lands are lost to development.  It will give agricultural families a choice to keep their lands in agricultural production."

In addition to protecting agricultural lands, wildlife habitat and river corridors, proceeds from the open space bond will fund regional parks and recreation areas in the county.  "Recreation is important to all of us who live here, and protecting open space is important to that," says Paul Weingart with FOR Parks. "We're working with everyone on this campaign because we will all benefit."  FOR Parks is promoting the idea of a regional park.

The Vote YES for Open Space Campaign is looking for volunteers to help in their public outreach and education efforts.  For more information about the campaign, or to get involved, please contact the campaign at:  406-522-8105 or visit their website at: www.voteopenspace.com.