Delaware County voters will decide on Nov. 3 whether to authorize up to $120 million in debt for land conservation, parks, greenways, water-quality and flood-management projects. Supporters, including Councilmember Elaine Paul Schaefer, say the funding would address unmet needs across the county and could revive the Green Ways Grants Program, while opponents argue the referendum amounts to additional borrowing and could increase the tax burden on property owners. The ballot question requires public disclosure and annual independent audits and states that the debt would be used for “financing land conservation, including protecting drinking water sources, water quality in rivers and creeks, wildlife habitat, conserving trees to protect air quality, conserving wetlands to prevent flooding, providing greenways and parks, protecting natural areas from development, and related costs.” If the full $120 million were borrowed, the county previously estimated the cost at about $24 per year for the average county household.
Source: Daily Times; 10/8/2026