Less than one penny of every dollar spent in the state now goes to maintain parks, monitor toxic chemical use and ensure Bay
Ten years ago, spending on environmental protection was one percent of the state’s budget - a figure long criticized for being too low. But recent budget cuts have dropped that to a “dangerous” level of .66 percent in the fiscal year 2010 budget, according to league’s report “On the Brink.”
“While some in government bravely argue we can do more with less, in truth we can only do less with less,” said ELM’s President George Bachrach. “And these budget cuts don’t only affect protection of natural resources, they affect our economy and quality of life as well.”
The report makes the case the cuts will harm jobs because it can slow permitting times for new development and that dirty parks and beaches may turn tourists away.
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From ELM's press release: The deep cuts to date mean that a wide array of responsibilities are being neglected – enforcement and compliance with environmental laws, water quality monitoring, technical assistance to communities on everything from how to run a drinking water treatment plant to wetlands protection, air quality permitting, upkeep of our parks and recreation areas. Cuts will mean pools will open later and close earlier this summer...
A copy is it www.environmentalleague.org.
Article courtesy of The Green Blog-Boston.com
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