Funding for CT DEEP and Ag Research Station
Funding for Natural Resource Conservation and Research
State Employees Unions have rejected the proposal brokered with the Administration. Before the proposal was put forward, a Plan B Budget was proposed that raised tremendous concerns in the conservation community. It is frustrating, even if a settlement is eventually struck, that some of the largest proposed cuts are in the areas that would be most damaging to the enjoyment of natural resources in Connecticut. On July 15th, this most recent budget proposal was put forward.
Hefty cuts to the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) budget and damaging cuts to the CT Agriculture Experiment Station would be devastating in many ways. We have provided a few references below for you to understand the magnitude of this Plan B budget, if it were to become reality:
- A letter to the Governor from conservation leaders responding to the proposed cuts to the DEEP in the Plan B budget;
- A letter from the Working Lands Alliance (CFPA is on its Steering Committee) regarding the proposed elimination of the Agriculture Experiment Station; and
- A Fact Sheet on the Agriculture Experiment Station that shows the immense value of the nation's first such station to both natural resources and jobs.
Please do what you can to contact legislators and the Governor's office to let them know that playing "chicken" with the future of natural resource conservation in Connecticut is unacceptable.
For CFPA's 2011 Conservation Agenda, click here. For additional information about CFPA's Legislative Agenda, please contact Executive Director Eric Hammerling at ehammerling "at" ctwoodlands.org or by phone at (860) 346-TREE.
