NYS LEGISLATORS NEED TO UNLOCK ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING

WE'RE ALMOST THERE—with the help of the State Legislature, New York can make a $200 Million investment in a healthy environment.

Thanks to the past support of Gov. George Pataki and the Legislature, investments in New York's environment have helped make the Hudson Valley a healthier, more beautiful place to live.

In recent years, however, spending has remained flat despite significant increased need for environmental protection. Right now, with your help, we can start to reverse this trend. Please urge your state legislators to finalize the $200 million Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

Earlier this year the Governor, Senate and Assembly all agreed that an expanded $200 million EPF should be enacted as part of the budget. HOWEVER, this agreement has not been finalized due to wholly unrelated disagreements between the parties.
Finalizing the EPF will not affect the state's fiscal condition or other issues, because the EPF is financed by the state's dedicated real estate transfer tax—the money is there and is dedicated for use by the EPF.

So despite all parties agreeing to support New York's dedicated environmental trust fund, and as a result of issues unrelated to the environment, a three-way EPF resolution has so far been impossible and the release of funds needed and available for clean water, clean air, public health and the environment is blocked.

Please contact your state Senator and Assembly member using the link below and urge them to forcefully advocate with the legislative leadership for $200 million in funding for the EPF. Feel free to use and adapt the letter to make it more personal.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Please Lead the Push to Finalize the EPF!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

The protection of clean air, water and natural lands in New York is in jeopardy, and I call on you to do everything within your power to resolve the impasse over the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

While we applaud you and your colleagues for passing many budget bills on time, the EPF--the primary source of funding for the state's environmental initiatives--remains unfunded and incomplete.

Both houses of the Legislature and the Governor have said they support the environmental protection funding at a $50 million increase over last year's budget, for a total of $200 million--but the fund is being held hostage in your ongoing negotiations over wholly unrelated items.

It is unacceptable for the Governor and the Legislature to consider the budget complete until the $200 million EPF appropriation is complete. It also is unacceptable that as a result of issues unrelated to the environment, the Legislature is unwilling to approve a standalone $200 million EPF. Until such action is taken, available funds needed for clean water, clean air, our health and the environment cannot be released.

The EPF is a dedicated fund financed by the state's real estate transfer tax. While appropriating EPF funds will not have any effect on the state's fiscal plan, not appropriating the funds would have a huge effect on the environment.

During this standoff, the protection of critical habitats and waterways, places of great importance to people who live and work in all parts of New York, are in limbo. Consider the Hudson Valley, the Hudson River and its tributaries without environmental protection. Local governments rely on the EPF to advance the protection of working farms and vital natural habitats, clean water and air, and to unlock public access to long-neglected waterfronts. The EPF has supported land preservation projects from Westchester and Rockland counties all the way upriver to Saratoga and Washington counties.

So it is imperative that you work to convince your leadership to approve an itemized three-way EPF. It is positive that the Governor has taken a step in your direction, and now the ball is in the Legislature's court to deliver this vital program for the benefit of all New Yorkers.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 03, 2006

Background Information

Scenic Hudson's position on the
Environmental Protection Fund

We greatly appreciate the collective support of the Governor, Senate and Assembly for a significantly expanded $200 million Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) in 2006. The EPF is financed by the state's real estate transfer tax and is dedicated to funding many of the critical environmental needs across the state.

We are, however, concerned that the recently passed Senate/Assembly budget bills did not include an itemized $200 million EPF appropriation. Without the EPF appropriation, we do not consider the budget to be complete.

Working together as partners, the Executive and Legislature have worked with us to advance important clean water, open space, and agricultural projects over the last 11 years—accomplishments of which they should be proud. Since 2001 difficult economic and budget circumstances have caused overall environmental, natural resource and parks spending to, at best, be flat while the total state budget and the environmental needs of New Yorkers grew significantly. A $200 million EPF appropriation represents a great step towards improving total overall state environmental spending and the goal of a $300 million EPF by 2009.

We urge the Governor and Legislature to finalize the $200 million EPF and build on New York's proud environmental legacy.

We believe the larger goal should continue to be statewide environmental spending of 2 cents per dollar of revenue for the environment. In line with this, we support Senator Marcellino's EPF Enhancement Act (S.6356) and Assemblyman DiNapoli's companion Assembly bill (A.9283), which would expand the fund to $300 million by 2009.

The Hudson Valley has greatly benefited from the Governor's and the Legislature's past support for New York's environment in general and for full funding for the EPF in particular. The projects that can benefit if the final adopted budget includes at least $200 million for the EPF run the gamut from safeguarding our region's important farms to creating and revitalizing waterfront parks to the state's acquisition of new parkland for all New Yorkers, to funding the Hudson River Estuary Program. A renewed state investment in the EPF is critical to the safety and quality of life—as well as a sound economy—in our rural, suburban and urban communities across the Hudson Valley and New York overall.

Enactment of a $200 million EPF appropriation would not have any affect on the state's fiscal condition since the EPF revenue comes from the state's real estate transfer tax, which is flush with cash. While appropriating EPF funds will not have any effect on the state's fiscal plan, not appropriating the funds will have a huge effect on the environment.