Twice each month TPL’s Conservation Finance service publishes links to state and local conservation finance stories from around the nation. As always, TPL’s online LandVote database provides the best source of data on conservation finance measures since 1988.

Maine
Legislature to decide on LMF bond this week

Massachusetts
Change in CPA law would free up funds for recreation

Town places CPA on November ballot

Michigan
Township places farmland millage on August ballot

Missouri
Gateway Arch sales tax might go before voters next April

Ohio
Supporters urge more Clean Ohio funding

Rhode Island
Governor urges support of open space bond referendum

Washington
Issaquah voters could see park bond on November ballot

Twice each month TPL’s Conservation Finance service publishes links to state and local conservation finance stories from around the nation. As always, The Trust for Public Land’s online LandVote database provides the best source of data on conservation finance measures since 1988.

Kentucky
2008 parks tax still being debated in Boone County

Massachusetts
Bill could provide new funding infusion for CPA

Norfolk considers CPA reduction

West Newbury too

New York
Brookhaven considers new open space bond

Ohio
Levy placed on ballot to buy parkland

Pennsylvania
Township prepares for open space referendum

Texas
Austin bond projects cut in half

San Antonio prepares for May bond election which include parks and open space

San Antonio parks bond a test of park support

Twice each month The Trust for Public Land’s Conservation Finance service publishes links to state and local conservation finance stories from around the nation.  As always, TPL’s online LandVote database provides the best source of data on conservation finance measures since 1988.

California
Water bond could be pulled from 2012 ballot

Colorado
Pitkin County opposes bill to divert GOCO funding

Bill introduced to reallocate lottery funds

Maryland
State Senate raids land conservation funding

Massachusetts
Great Barrington considering CPA

Michigan
Spotlight on Washtenaw County farmland preservation program

New Jersey
Hunterdon County considering raid on open space funds

Burlington County farmland achievements recognized

Ohio
Editorial on the Clean Ohio Fund

Twice each month TPL’s Conservation Finance service publishes links to state and local conservation finance stories from around the nation. As always, TPL’s online LandVote database provides the best source of data on conservation finance measures since 1988.

Arizona
Bill tries to raid voter approved Growing Smarter fund

But

Bill is defeated in House

California
Land access essential for public support of Sonoma County Ag Preservation District

Colorado
Eagle County open space tax discussed

50 years of land preservation celebrated in Colorado

Illinois
History of Forest Preserve Districts discussed

Iowa
Editorial praises Missouri soils sales tax, encourages Iowa to do the same

Massachusetts
Canton prepares for CPA vote on Tuesday

Freetown prepares for CPA vote on Monday

Canton selectmen vote to oppose CPA

More on Canton

CPA discussions advance in may Mass communities

Wayland considers cutting back CPA surcharge

Wayland citizen explains potential CPA rollback

Duxbury Town Meeting votes to trim CPA surcharge

Minnesota
Jurisdictions fight over Legacy funding

Missouri
St. Charles County voters, after legislative approval, may see sales tax for parks and trails

North Carolina
Cary considering bond for parks and transportation

Oregon
Bend may see parks bond this November

Pennsylvania
Bucks County presents economic case for open space

Corbett budget bad for the environment

Corbett seeks to raid conservation funds

Corbett budget would hurt farmland preservation

Utah
Salt Lake County examining $110M bond for park improvements

Twice each month TPL’s Conservation Finance service publishes links to state and local conservation finance stories from around the nation. As always, The Trust for Public Land’s online LandVote database provides the best source of data on conservation finance measures since 1988.

California
Oil drilling said to violate terms of 1992 open space ballot measure in LA County

San Francisco considers November parks bond

Connecticut
Report released on conserving New England forests

Maryland
Despite benefits of Program Open Space, funding is often up for debate

Open space provides great return on investment

Massachusetts
Debate stirs over April CPA vote in Canton

Fall River considers CPA

Editorial on Fall River CPA

Pennsylvania
Centre County township considers November open space tax

Washington
Kirkland explores open space measure in November

Twice each month The Trust for Public Land’s Conservation Finance service publishes links to state and local conservation finance stories from around the nation. As always, TPL’s online LandVote database provides the best source of data on conservation finance measures since 1988.

Arkansas
Signature campaign seeks ballot measure to scale back state conservation sales tax

California
Yolo County focuses efforts on preserving farmland

Kentucky
Op-ed calls for dedicated funding mechanisms for State parks

Maryland
New report highlightsneed for conservation funding in Maryland

Massachusetts
Business group opposes CPA in Canton

Missouri
Successes and shortcomings of land banking in St. Louis

Montana
Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks looks at possible reorganization

New Jersey
Gloucester County conservation program very active in 2012

After November 2011 failure, River Edge may go back to the ballot

New Mexico
Santa Fe asking voters for $14M for parks

Ohio
Geauga County conservation efforts discussed

Texas
November bond package revealed for Austin

More on bond

Twice each month TPL’s Conservation Finance service publishes links to state and local conservation finance stories from around the nation.  As always, TPL’s online LandVote database provides the best source of data on conservation finance measures since 1988.

California
3 California counties celebrated for open space preservation

Marin County to launch ag preservation program

Colorado
Erie open space tax extension polls well, placed on April ballot

Louisville to poll residents on open space tax

Fort Collins celebrates 20 year anniversary of open space tax

Florida
Martin County looking to spend last of 2006 voter approved funds

Massachusetts
Article examining the current state of CPA

Michigan
Land use and transit are keys to sustainability in Ann Arbor

Missouri
Johnson County deserves better parks. Op-ed

New Hampshire
Land acquired for Albany Town Forest. TPL project

NH proposal could would impact local conservation efforts

New Jersey
Morris County reduces open space tax for the fifth consecutive year

New York
Need remains for Suffolk County land preservation

North Dakota
Fate of oil tax conservation measure hinges on sportsmen

Pennsylvania
Governor looks to raid open space funding

Texas
Editorial calls for stop to sporting goods sales tax raids

Virginia
Lawmakers seek more money for easements

Twice each month TPL’s Conservation Finance service publishes links to state and local conservation finance stories from around the nation. As always, The Trust for Public Land’s online LandVote database provides the best source of data on conservation finance measures since 1988.

Colorado
Erie tests April 2012 open space tax extension

More on Erie

Connecticut
Granby voters approve bond for town projects including preservation of farmland

New Jersey
Cape May County Freeholders continue to pass up state open space funds

Somerset County protects nearly 1,000 acres in 2011

New York
Suffolk County legislators consider raid on open space sales tax

North Carolina
Cary looking at November bond package which could include park funding

Cumberland County looks at 2013 park bond measure

Pennsylvania
Growing Greener Coalition pushes for passage of Marcellus Shale bill

Texas
El Paso considers November “quality of life” bond, including open space, parks and trails

San Antonio prepares May bond package which includes park funding

Virginia
Legislation introduced to promote easements through tax credit program

U.S. Capitol, ca. 1920 - Theodor Horydczak/Library of Congress

Periodically, the folks in The Trust for Public Land’s Federal Affairs department prepare a summary of conservation news from the nation’s capitol.

Story Summaries
(Details on all stories here)

FY 2012 Budget Complete; Many Conservation Programs Survive Difficult Budget Year
On December 23, President Obama signed into law the Fiscal Year 2012 Omnibus Appropriations bill, thus completing the annual budget and appropriations process. This Omnibus bill covers 9 of the 12 individual appropriations bills; the other 3 were included in a “minibus” approved by Congress in late November. Despite the significant focus in Washington on cutting spending, many conservation programs survived the FY 2012 budget process in relatively good standing

LWCF Full Funding Bill Now Stands at 27 Co-Sponsors
On April 15, 2011, Conrad Anker, world-renowned alpine climber—who discovered lost explorer George Mallory’s body on Mt. Everest—testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, the Environment and Related Agencies in support of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The fund was reduced by 33% in the Fiscal Year 2011 budget and could face further cuts. Supported by offshore oil and gas leasing revenues—not taxpayers’ dollars—the LWCF ensures all Americans have access to local community parks and playgrounds and the vast expanses of federal public lands.

Attention Congress: Investing in Land Conservation Helps Our Economy
Over the past year, the annual budget and appropriations process has cut conservation funding disproportionately to its benefits. Key programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund, State and Tribal Wildlife Grants and EPA programs have been slashed by more than 30 percent, in contrast to overall non-defense discretionary spending, which has been cut by just 7 percent.

America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) Initiative
In 2010, President Obama launched the America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) initiative to bring in outside conservation partners to help create his 21st century conservation and recreation agenda. During the summer of 2010, the leadership of the Department of Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Council on Environmental Quality, and the Army Corps of Engineers conducted approximately 51 listening sessions in various areas across the country to engage adults and youth alike on their conservation vision and how to make the Federal Government a better partner with states, tribes, and local communities.

Transportation Reauthorization Bill Update
When Congress last passed a multiyear transportation bill (SAFETEA-LU) in 2005, it was set to expire on September 30, 2009. Because the current gas tax does not produce enough revenue to support existing transportation programs, Congress has been struggling to pass another multi-year bill and has only succeeded to date in passing 7 short-term extensions. The current one expires March 31, 2012.

Conservation Tax Incentive Extension Must Wait for 2012
Congress adjourned for the year without extending the conservation tax incentive that encourages landowners to donate conservation easements. While Congress agreed after much wrangling to extend temporarily the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits, no action was taken on a multitude of other tax provisions that expire December 31, 2011 or during 2012. This is disappointmenting news for landowners and those in the land trust community who recognize the importance of this conservation tool. If history is any guide, however, it is likely that the incentive will be extended sometime next year and made retroactive.

Farm Bill Set to Expire at the End of FY 2012
Congress adjourned for the year without extending the conservation tax incentive that encourages landowners to donate conservation easements. While Congress agreed after much wrangling to extend temporarily the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits, no action was taken on a multitude of other tax provisions that expire December 31, 2011 or during 2012. This is disappointmenting news for landowners and those in the land trust community who recognize the importance of this conservation tool. If history is any guide, however, it is likely that the incentive will be extended sometime next year and made retroactive.

Details on all stories here

Twice each month The Trust for Public Land’s Conservation Finance service publishes links to state and local conservation finance stories from around the nation. As always, TPL’s online LandVote database provides the best source of data on conservation finance measures since 1988.

California
More on potential Laguna Beach parcel tax

Organizations partner to protect land in the Sierra Nevada

Colorado
Louisville looking at November open space sales tax renewal

A look at San Miguel County open space tax and program

Massachusetts
State makes largest land purchase in nearly a century

Michigan
Opinion piece on Ann Arbor Greenbelt

New Jersey
Ocean City recommended to buy more open space

North Dakota
Groups push state constitutional amendment for land conservation

Ohio
Conflict of interest concern with Granville open space program

Editorial on land trusts in Ohio

Oregon
Editorial on more access to Portland Metro parks

Sherwood looking at similar Tigard bond measure

Pennsylvania
Franklin County group forms to protect open space

Tennessee
Grundy County officials express concern at growing recreation areas

Texas
San Antonio proposing park projects for May bond referendum

Project list begins to form for Austin bond measure

Utah
Asking price on parcel likely too high for open space bond in Park City

Washington
Kitsap County sees open space and trails as boost to economy