The five townships on the East End will be making a decision this Election Day on whether or not to spend the Community Preservation Fund on something other than land preservation.

Since 1999, there has been a 2 percent tax on home purchases in Riverhead, Southampton, Southold, Shelter Island and East Hampton. The fund has been used to buy and preserve open space.

Proposition 1 on this year's ballot would allow towns to use up to 20 percent of the money they collect to protect water quality. Anti-pollution projects for local waterways and upgrades to sewer systems would be eligible for funding if the proposition passes.

"The genius of the Community Preservation Fund is that each of the towns get to choose their priorities," says Tim Caulfield, of the Peconic Land Trust. "Whether it's important for them to preserve farmland, or now this new watershed protection element, they can all choose what's important to them."

The proposition would also extend the tax until the year 2050. Currently, it's set to expire in 2030. So far, more than $1 billion has been collected and 10,000 acres of land has been preserved.

The measure currently has no opposition and is expected to pass, according to supporters. It can be found on the back of the ballots presented to voters on Nov. 8.