Hopkinton Land Trust asks council to place $2 million open-space bond on referendum
March 02, 2025 | Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island
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Representatives of the Hopkinton Land Trust presented to the Hopkinton Town Council on Feb. 3, 2025, requesting that the council place a $2 million open-space bond question on a future referendum so the trust can continue acquiring and protecting town lands.
Jason Perrin, speaking for the Hopkinton Land Trust, described Hopkinton as one of the most heavily forested towns in Rhode Island and said the bond would let the trust take advantage of matching funds from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and nonprofit partners. Perrin said protecting open space yields budgetary and community benefits, including recreation, groundwater protection and reduced long-term municipal costs tied to residential development.
Perrin presented estimates from the trust: prior bond funding of about $3 million protected approximately 1,200–1,300 acres (the trust cited both figures in different places during the presentation), equating to roughly $2,300 per acre when matching funds were included; a new $2 million bond, the trust estimated, could protect about 500 acres under certain assumptions. The trust estimated approximate household cost for a $2 million bond would be about $50–$60 per year over a 15–20 year term. Perrin noted those figures are based on assumptions documented on the presentation slides and are therefore approximate.
Carol Baker, who identified herself as a member of the Land Trust and said the trust is a municipal board appointed by the town council, asked about remaining bond funds and timelines. Presenters said about $65,000 remained from an earlier bond and explained two outstanding bonds: a $1 million 20‑year bond issued in 2011 and a $2 million 15‑year bond issued in 2019; debt-service payments and expiration years were discussed but exact remaining principal was not provided in the meeting.
The Land Trust requested that the council place the $2 million open-space bond on the ballot as part of the budget/referendum process; presenters said if the council did not, the trust could pursue a citizen petition process (they mentioned collecting approximately 200 signatures) to secure a ballot question. Councilors and land-trust speakers discussed procedural timing and the budget workshop schedule for inclusion of the bond question. No final council vote to place the bond on the ballot was recorded at this meeting.
Jason Perrin, speaking for the Hopkinton Land Trust, described Hopkinton as one of the most heavily forested towns in Rhode Island and said the bond would let the trust take advantage of matching funds from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and nonprofit partners. Perrin said protecting open space yields budgetary and community benefits, including recreation, groundwater protection and reduced long-term municipal costs tied to residential development.
Perrin presented estimates from the trust: prior bond funding of about $3 million protected approximately 1,200–1,300 acres (the trust cited both figures in different places during the presentation), equating to roughly $2,300 per acre when matching funds were included; a new $2 million bond, the trust estimated, could protect about 500 acres under certain assumptions. The trust estimated approximate household cost for a $2 million bond would be about $50–$60 per year over a 15–20 year term. Perrin noted those figures are based on assumptions documented on the presentation slides and are therefore approximate.
Carol Baker, who identified herself as a member of the Land Trust and said the trust is a municipal board appointed by the town council, asked about remaining bond funds and timelines. Presenters said about $65,000 remained from an earlier bond and explained two outstanding bonds: a $1 million 20‑year bond issued in 2011 and a $2 million 15‑year bond issued in 2019; debt-service payments and expiration years were discussed but exact remaining principal was not provided in the meeting.
The Land Trust requested that the council place the $2 million open-space bond on the ballot as part of the budget/referendum process; presenters said if the council did not, the trust could pursue a citizen petition process (they mentioned collecting approximately 200 signatures) to secure a ballot question. Councilors and land-trust speakers discussed procedural timing and the budget workshop schedule for inclusion of the bond question. No final council vote to place the bond on the ballot was recorded at this meeting.
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