Dear Friends:

Our elected officials are poised to make important decisions during the special session that will impact Maryland's environment for many years to come. We need your help NOW. It is imperative that you contact the Governor and your legislators and remind them that:

• Since 2002 over $480 million has been diverted from Program Open Space; park operations have been cut by 46%; and staffing at the Maryland Departments of Environment and Natural Resources are at an all-time low;
• Land development is currently outpacing land preservation, resulting in a loss of environmentally important lands and much needed park and recreation areas;
• Current reports identify a shortfall of $500 million to address existing needs for our hugely popular local parks and recreation facilities;

Voters are clear in poll after poll that they support land preservation and want these programs fully funded and not diverted to the General Fund.

Tell your elected officials:

1. Do NOT divert Program Open Space funds from its intended purpose of land conservation;
2. Close the loophole that allows business entities to avoid paying the real estate transfer tax and direct a portion of those new funds to supplement the state park operating budget;
3. Do NOT eliminate General Fund support for state park operations or use county Program Open Space funds for state park operations; 
4. Support the creation of a dedicated fund to clean up the Bay, and our rivers and streams.

Read below for more details and a sample letter to send to your elected officials.

Thanks again for your support.

All my best,
Marcia

THE ISSUES –

Please tell the Governor and your legislators that while they address the state's structural deficit, they must also close the environmental deficit. Here are four sensible ways they can address the environmental deficit.

Land Preservation Funding
From FY2002 to FY2006, $480 million of dedicated land conservation funds were diverted to the General Fund and used for unrelated purposes. Last year, the Governor and many legislators unequivocally pledged to fully fund Program Open Space for the next four years, yet the Governor's "cost of delay" or "doomsday" budget takes the entire $141 million of the projected real estate transfer tax for FY 09 and diverts it to the General Fund. We need to hold our elected officials accountable for their campaign promises.

Transfer Tax Loophole
The Governor's revenue package that resolves the structural deficit includes legislation to close the tax loophole that allows business entities to avoid paying the real estate transfer tax. During the special session, the General Assembly needs to pass the transfer tax loophole or Controlling Interest Bill and ensure these additional revenues go to Program Open Space.

State Park Operations
Since 2002, state parks have suffered a 46% reduction in funding. Instead of increasing the meager $16 million that state parks receive from the General Fund, the Governor's proposed revenue package eliminates General Fund support for State parks and uses Program Open Space money, dedicated to county park development, to fund State park operations. Partners for Open Space agrees that State parks are in dire need of increased funding for operations and believes that a portion of the revenue generated from closing the transfer tax loophole should be used to increase State park operations funding not replace existing General Fund support.

Green Fund
The Governor's proposed revenue plan merely resolves the current structural deficit and has no new dollars for the environment. If Maryland is to reach its goal of a clean Chesapeake Bay, we need to establish a dedicated fund to reduce pollution, restore our rivers, streams, and the Bay. The Green Fund, which will be considered during the special session, would provide those dedicated funds and deserves support.

HERE IS A SAMPLE LETTER YOU CAN SEND TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT COVERS ALL OF THE ABOVE ISSUES:

Dear ______________________________:

As you enter into this special session, we urge you to resolve the state's budget problems in a way that protects the state's environment and the quality of life that is so important to the citizens of Maryland.

The longer we procrastinate in resolving the State's fiscal crisis, the more difficult and costly the job will be.

In these budget deliberations, we ask that you please address Maryland's environmental deficit and ensure that the following items are included in the revenue package:

1. Do NOT divert Program Open Space funds from it's intended purpose of land conservation;
2. Close the loophole that allows business entities to avoid paying the real estate transfer tax and direct a portion of those new funds to supplement the State park operating budget;
3. Do NOT eliminate General Fund support for State park operations or use county Program Open Space funds for State park operations;
4. Support the creation of a dedicated fund to clean up the Bay and our rivers and streams.

With your support, we can begin to address Maryland's environmental deficit.

Sincerely,

_____________________________