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| The Adirondack Council |
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home | about us | what you can do | shop | issues | library | activists | news archive | contact us |
February 2003
Dear Adirondack Council activist:
At first glance, the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) seems to have done well in Governor Pataki’s proposed budget. Just like last year, the Governor has proposed $125 million for the fund. But if you take a closer look, it is clear that the EPF is under attack. Tens of millions of dollars are proposed to be diverted to unrelated purposes and salaries are proposed to be paid out of the fund. The EPF is being raided and this is unacceptable.
The Governor has proposed to divert $20 million from the EPF to non-environmental purposes. In addition, his proposal diverts over $6 million from the fund to pay for staff at the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. And that’s not all. Governor Pataki’s proposal cuts funding for land acquisition in the EPF from $38 million to $30 million. That’s a reduction of more than 20%!
It’s a tough budget year for New York State, but as you know, the Environmental Protection Fund was created to ensure that environmental projects would go forward even in difficult financial times. The EPF is a dedicated fund that is supposed to be protected from the ups and downs of the state budget. It was not created to pay for salaries or to be diverted to uses outside of its original intent. The integrity of the EPF is being compromised and we must work to restore its funding.
Help us restore millions of dollars to the Environmental Protection Fund. Please contact the Chairmen of the Senate and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committees. They need to hear that you want to protect the integrity of the EPF and want its funding restored.
Please mail, fax or e-mail letters to both Assemblyman DiNapoli and Senator Marcellino. In your letters, please urge them to:
• work to restore funds for land acquisition in the EPF.
• keep salaries from being paid out of the fund.
• protect the integrity of the EPF.
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If you would, please send or e-mail us copies of your letters. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. You can find our addresses below. Thank you for your help and support to protect the Adirondack Park.
Best Regards,
Lisa M. Genier
Program Analyst