The critical season when decisions get made at the State House is upon us, so our hardworking advocates need all the support they can get. If you can send an email or make a phone call this week, it would be much appreciated!

Today, we hear from Rupert Friday, of the RI Land Trust Council . If a land conservation bond is not put on the ballot this fall, funding for the state's farmland protection and open space grants programs - that have been effective since 1985 - will end. Rupert and many others hope to maintain these successful programs. Click on "More..." for more info and details from Rupert about what you can do to help.

From Rupert Friday, Rhode Island Land Trust Council...

Friends of Land Conservation in Rhode Island:
 
Your phone calls to RI House Leaders today are critical
... even if you have called before, please make follow-up calls.
 
In the next three days (by Friday, June 6), Rhode Island's House Leaders will
finalize the state's FY2009 Budget.
 
House Finance Committee Leaders may eliminate the governor's proposed
$5 million bond referendum for land conservation programs.
 
Without a 2008 Bond, state land conservation programs WILL END.
These successful programs - operating since 1985 - will run out of funds after 2008.
 
Please make 3 calls today:
 
1.  House Speaker Murphy    222-2466
    This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
2.  House Majority Leader Fox    222-2447
    This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
3.  Your state Representative  (this link has phone numbers and email addresses for all representatives).
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Email/RepEmailListDistrict.asp
 
 ask them to:
Ø support a 2008 BOND REFERENDUM for farmland and open space protection funding
 
What to say:
 
 " Please support a bond referendum in the FY 2009 Budget
for farm land and open space conservation.
If a land conservation bond is not put on the ballot this fall, funding for the
state's farmland protection and open space grants programs - that have been effective since 1985
- will end.
Please Don't End these successful programs.  "
 
We need:
-- $5 million for the state's farmland protection program &
-- $5 million for the 2010 local open space grants
 
The newly authorized federal farmbill doubles funding available for farmland protection.
These federal funds require a state match.
 
Rhode Island can get $3- $6 million a year in federal farmland protection funding
if we keep our state farmland protection program running.
 
Without a new state bond, we will be out of state farmland protection funds
and lose the federal funds to other states.
 
A bond in this budget will not impact the FY2009 budget at all. 
No bonds will need to be issued in FY 2009
The farmland protection bond funding will only cost $250,000 in FY2010.
 
While these are difficult fiscal times for the state, we need to continue investing in our future.
The cost for the farmland and open space conservation bonds is small compared to the
revenue losses and costs the state will incur if farmland is developed. 
 
Thanks for making calls and sending emails -
these will keep state land conservation
programs up and running.
 
Please contact me if you need additional information.
 
Rupert
Rupert Friday
Rhode Island Land Trust Council
 
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
401-331-7110 ext. 39
 
 
Below you will find:
- additional background information on an open space bond referendum
- frequently asked questions
 
Additional Background Information:
 
Governor Carcieri proposed $5 million in bond funding
in his FY 2009 Budget for land conservation programs.
(Note: This is a 60% cut in funding for these programs from the 2004 bond.)
the state's land conservation community  is seeking  $10 million in bond funding. 
 
Some leaders in House Finance Committee are proposing:
totally eliminating the Governor's bond proposal and providing
$0 in bond funding for land conservation!
 
This week, the House Finance Committee & General Assembly Leaders
will determine the future bond funding for the state's land conservation programs until at least 2011.
 
For over 20 years - since 1985 -
in good fiscal years and in bad fiscal years
Rhode Island has provided open space bond funding for land conservation programs:
 
1. RI Farmland Protection program - buys development rights to protect farmland.
        The state only has $70.00 left uncommitted in this program.
        Without state funds, Rhode Island will lose $3 - $6 million/year in federal funding
        for farmland protection. (this has increased under the new federal farmbill)
        $5 million is needed to continue this program in 2010 and 2011
 
   Only 45, 800 acres of land in RI remain in farm production (less than 7% of the state) and
80% of this land is unprotected today.
 
2. Local Open Space Grants - competitive grants to land trusts and municipalities
    protect our communities' highest priority lands from development.
    Grant rounds are open every two years and grants are very competitive.
    Only the best proposals are submitted and only the best of these are funded.
 
    There are no funds left for the 2010 grants (FY 2011).
    These Grants Protect our communities most important: drinking water supplies,
    shorelines and watersheds, farmland, forests, critical wildlife habitat and natural areas.
        $5 million is needed for the 2010 local open space grants.
 
These programs are a great bargain for RI and a sound investment of the state's capital $.
Rhode Island only pays 20% - 25% of the cost for the state's land conservation programs -
75% - 80% of the funding for farmland protection and local open space grant projects
comes from foundation grants, federal funding, municipal funding and private contributions.
The State's bond funding provides the seed money - the catalyst - that gets these projects
started and attracts matching $ from foundations and federal agencies.
Without State bond funding, we could lose much of the other funding.
 
Without a bond referendum on the 2008 ballot,
 these programs WILL END.
Land conservation bonds have strong public support.
In 2000    $23.5 million          73.1% voter approval
In 2004    $25 million             70.8% voter approval
The bonds were approved by a large majority of voters in every municipality.
The 2004 Bond got the highest voter approval of anything on the ballot.
 
Frequently asked Questions:
 
Can we afford this bond?  How much will it cost the state each year?
 
We can't afford to not fund farmland protection and land conservation.
Farms contribute $100 million a year to Rhode Island's economy and tax revenue
to the state and municipalities.  Since 1945, RI has lost 80% of our farmland.
If our remaining farmland is developed, we lose that economic contribution AND
will have higher state and town costs for roads and other infrastructure.
 
The state's land conservation programs get a huge discount:  75% - 80% off
because land protection is paid for with $3 from foundation grants,
donations, federal funds, etc. for ever $1 that the state invests in the projects.
 
State Budget Cost for Principal and Interest per year for
each $5 million in bond funding issued as needed for farmland and local grants:
FY 2009    $ 0
FY  2010   $ 250,000  (only 1/2 of farmland protection bonds in FY 2010)
FY 2011    $ 496,875
FY 2012    $ 484,375
FY 2013 ... state budget costs continue declining each year
 
Every state investment of $5 million will protect farmland, watersheds and other important open space
worth over $20 million.   Thus, for less than $496,900 a year we protect land worth over $20 million.
Land prices are down now and state investment for land conservation goes further.
These cost estimates are conservative and based on 5% interest over 20 years.
 
Øcapital investment in Land Conservation is a sound fiscal policy - this is one of the few uses of state capital funding that does not depreciate in value over time.
 
Can the bond wait until next year?  Why is this important now?  
 
Voters can only approve bond initiatives every two years.  If we don't have a bond
referendum on the ballot this fall, the next opportunity is the November 2010 election.
Bond funds approved in November 2010 will not be available for programs until 2011. 
The state's farmland protection and local open space grants will be out of funds
before the 2010 election and these programs will end.  We need to have voters authorize
a bond in 2008 so that funds are available in 2009 (Fiscal Year 2010). This
keeps our options open and we can issue bonds as the budget permits and needs arise.
For example, without voter authorization of bonds this fall, we would not have the option of issuing
bonds the next couple of years to protect farmland or special opportunities that arise such as Rock Point.
 
 
Please forward this email - Ask 3 or 4 friends to make calls and send emails.
It makes a huge difference when our state legislators hear from 5 or 10 people on an issue!
 
Rupert
Rupert Friday
Rhode Island Land Trust Council
 
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
401-331-7110 ext. 39