A new law signed by Gov. Jon Corzine Tuesday is leaving the fate of open space funding in the hands of New Jersey voters.

The fund, designed to help preserve open space in the Garden State, is almost empty. The new law will put a question on November?s ballot to fund open space preservation. It will ask voters if they want the state to borrow $200 million for the fund until lawmakers come up with a long-term solution.

The money would go toward buying open space, preserving historical sites and buying homes to get them out of flood-prone areas.

The biggest issue voters will have to face is whether their already debt-ridden state should borrow more money.

Corzine said he is making it a priority to work on a long-term solution before the $200 million would run out in 2009. If lawmakers come up with a solution soon, he said the state may be able to avoid borrowing altogether.