Allen Township residents going to the polls in November will decide if they are willing to pay more in earned income taxes to preserve farmland.

At a recent meeting of the Allen Township Board of Supervisors, the three members present voted to place a referendum on the ballot asking residents if they are willing designate a portion of their earned income taxes for farmland preservation.

Voting in favor of the referendum question were Supervisors Albert Pierce, William Holmes and Michelle Drzewiecki. Absent were Supervisor Chairman Paul Balliet and Vice Chairman Bruce Frack, both of whom have supported the initiative previously.

The actual wording of the referendum has not officially been drafted, but the question will ask residents if they are willing to pay a 0.25-percent increase in earned income taxes for farmland preservation, which has strong backing by county officials.

Last November the question appeared on the ballot but was defeated.

Other than agreeing to allow residents to vote on the question, the township supervisors have not taken an official position on the issue.

Pierce, an attorney and solicitor for the Borough of Nazareth, has said he supports the issue but, if voters reject it, the supervisors would have to agree to put it to a vote again or abide by the voters' decision.

Should the voters give their approval, the tax will be deducted for a five-year period and used to purchase farmland to support the Northampton County open space initiatives program.

It is said the added tax funds could preserve up to 70 acres of open space each year by buying development rights.

When a farm owner agrees to join the program and sell development rights, the farmland involved can never be used as a site for building homes.