A Second Budget Bill Will Strip Parks & Open Space to Fund Walking Around Money for Legislators

[JPZenger]

I just received this email from the PA. Land Trust Association. (P.S. Many legislators did not receive a copy of the budget until a few hours before they were told to vote on it yesterday.):


"While the state budget is done, the fiscal code bill to make the budget work is not! News outlets have now confirmed that the draft fiscal code bill would strip $4.848 million in land trust project money from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund.

Call and email your PA Senator and Representative NOW (most preferably Thursday morning ASAP for maximum effect but if it is later in the day, then so be it). Tell them to stop this raid on open space preservation money. Taking $4.848M in Keystone land trust funds could stop a couple dozen projects from coming to fruition.

We know that many Senators and Representatives were given the false impression that there would be no stripping of Keystone land trust project funding. So please confirm the reality of the situation with them and ask them to tell their leaders and colleagues that this raid can’t be allowed to happen. The projects in your communities are too important.

"

[JPZenger]

1. Response

I just heard from a state legislator who said that the land trust funds were restored. He also argued that the film tax credits give the best bang for the buck in job creation, and that the WAM grants are important to make up for cuts in State funds.

[JPZenger]

2. Update - Trust Fund Saved this Year

From the PA. Land Trust Association:

"As a result of all of your calls, emails and letters, the General Assembly:

- Preserved the Keystone land trust project money and left other environmental funds alone.

- Expressed the intent to pass a Marcellus shale severance tax by 10/1/2010 with revenues to be divided between the “Commonwealth, counties and municipalities, and environmental initiatives.” (There is still a lot of very important detail to be worked out on this!)

- Imposed no new drilling leasing mandates on the State Forests.

This is a great outcome considering that just two weeks ago we were facing $132 million in raids on environmental funds. Your outreach to legislators made all the difference! Thank you!

Unfortunately, other elements of the budget are not so good from a conservation perspective. State General Fund (i.e. general tax dollar) support for DCNR and DEP was substantially cut. Increases in permitting fees and other revenues for the Departments will partially offset this loss but only partially. The PA Environment Digest counts $1.3B in total diversions from environmental programs over the last eight years"