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No Solution To Refunding Growing Greener Offered In Proposed Budget
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Although Growing Greener has transformed Pennsylvania by empowering communities to protect working farms and special places, clean up rivers and streams, create and improve parks and trails, and revitalize cities and towns, there was no mention of any plan to refund the program in the proposed budget delivered to the General Assembly this week by Gov. Corbett. After a decade of success, the funding sources that support Growing Greener are all but gone with the end of monies from the Growing Greener II bond issue.
The Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund in the proposed proposed budget would support $69.8 million in debt service payments and projects, down from $112.8 million this fiscal year as a result of the end of bond funding from Growing Greener II.
Debt service payments would increase from $36.8 to $42.5 million.
Watershed grants would decrease from $42.2 to $10.2 million. Funding for abandoned mine reclamation and sewage and drinking water grants would be zeroed out.
DCNR Community Conservation Grants would be reduced from $18.8 to $5.7 million. Funding for PennVEST would be reduce to $6.4 million from $7.4 million.
Growing Greener support for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program would decrease slightly to $4 million from $4.6 million.
A statewide Renew Growing Greener Coalition of over 200 organizations, businesses and government entities have joined together to lobby for a renewal of the Growing Greener Program. The Coalition brings decades of experience and success in protecting and restoring our land and water resources, revitalizing our communities, enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities and preserving our historic assets.
In addition to organizations, 14 counties have passed resolutions formally supporting the Renew Growing Greener Coalition along with 28 townships, boroughs and cities.
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3/14/2011 |
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