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Budget Includes Increase for Environmental Programs
Yesterday the Conference Committee appointed to generate a consensus budget between the House and Senate versions of the budget released its report, a $36.5B state budget. Today the House and Senate both approved the budget, which now heads to the Governor's desk.
The budget provides $219.9M for environmental programs (a $16.1M increase over the FY14 funding level of $203.7M). This 7% increase for environmental programs over last year's budget is largely a maintenance budget that will enable programs to continue. Massachusetts is still falling short of our goal of 1% for the environment. The FY15 budget allocates just 0.6% of the state budget for environmental programs - status quo with FY13 and FY14.
Department Funding Summary
Even with increases for many programs this year, overall funding for DEP and DCR is less than the pre-recession levels of FY09.
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA)
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR)
ELM's Budget Advocacy
This spring ELM worked hard to advocate for the Legislature to restore funding to a number of key environmental programs which have been cut in recent years. With over 45 endorsing organizations, we released the FY15 Green Budget in early 2014. We held events at the State House, including a Green Budget Launch Event in February, followed by a DCR State Parks Briefing in April. ELM convened meetings with dozens of legislative offices, including Ways and Means Committee leadership. We sent budget alerts in which we asked you to contact your legislators in support of amendments. In addition, we sent advocacy letters to communicate Green Budget priorities to lawmakers.
Thank You
ELM appreciates the residents and lawmakers who gave their attention to the Commonwealth's environmental needs and opportunities and advocated for increased funding. Thank you in particular to the following Senators: Brownsberger, Creem, Downing, Eldridge, M. Moore, Pacheco, Rush, Timilty, and Wolf and the following Representatives: Ayers, Cantwell, Dykema, Gobi, Hecht, D. Rogers, Schmid, Smizik, and Walsh, who worked with us to advance our funding priorities.
Increases for Green Budget Line-Items
Just about all of the line-items we advocated for in the FY15 Green Budget received funding increases. Highlights include:
Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
- Seasonal Staffing: Increase of $2.6M (for a total of $15.3M)
- State Parks: Increase of $1.8M (for a total of $44.3M)
- Office of Dam Safety: Increase of $629,000 (for a total of $984,000)
- Watershed Management: Increase of $300,000 (for a total of $1.3M)
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
- Administration: Increase of almost $650,000 (for a total of $29M)
- Hazardous Waste Cleanup Program: Increase of $333,000 (for a total of $13.9M)
- Recycling: Increase of $125,000 (for a total of $500,000)
Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
- Division of Marine Fisheries: Increase of $528,000 (for a total of $6M)
- Division of Ecological Restoration: Increase of $63,000 (for a total of $557,000)
Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR)
- DAR Administration: Increase of $350,000 (for a total of $5.7M)
We're also pleased to report that some new priorities we lobbied for received funds. Within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), new line-items were created for:
- Climate change adaptation & preparedness: Funded at $1M
- Office of the state climatologist: Funded at $200,000.
In addition, the budget provides that $25M from the state's budget surplus will go toward the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Trust Fund. CPA is a smart growth tool that helps communities preserve open space and historic sites, create affordable housing, and develop outdoor recreational facilities.
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