[BCNnet] more details on gov's budget cuts
Douglas Chien
doug.chien@sierraclub.org
Fri, 20 Feb 2004 17:21:54 -0600
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From the IL Env. Council
Impacts of Governor's FY 05 Budget Request
Program FY 04 Budget
FY05 Budget Request
Endangered Species Protection Board $0 $0
The ESPB is responsible for the listing of species of plants and
animals as endangered or threatened and advising the DNR on the
conservation of listed species. Zeroing out their budget will cause
the ESPB to default on their statutory responsibility to list species
resulting in further degradation of species in peril.
Nature Preserves Commission $1,216.4 $0
The NPC is responsible for the dedication of high quality natural
areas and endangered species habitats as nature preserves and land
and water reserves. These two dedications place the protection of
these lands as their highest and best use. It is the strongest
protection provided land in Illinois.
Zeroing out their budget will result in the loss of 12 professional
and 2 clerical staff. These positions are responsible for the
oversight of 319 nature preserves, in 79 counties (43,290 acres) and
106 land and water reserves in 48 counties (33,317 acres). Many of
these areas are dedicated by private landowners. NPC staff negotiate
these generous gifts. During the last fiscal year 3,191 privately
owned acres were dedicated saving the state $3,640,000 (3 times the
annual NPC budget!) that would have been needed to acquire these
areas.
Natural Heritage $3,595.9
$0
The Natural Heritage staff in the Office of Resource Conservation are
responsible for the protection, management and restoration of
endangered species, natural areas, and wildlife like great egrets,
bald eagles, barn owls, shorebirds, scarlet tanagers, bluebirds, box
turtles and their prairie, forest and wetlands habitats on public and
private land.
Zeroing out their budget will result in the loss of all 30
professional biologists and 3 clerical staff. Nearly all of the
biologists are field based positions or are responsible for statewide
conservation programs.
Implementation of the Natural Areas Acquisition $148.3 $0
Zeroing out this budget will result in the loss of 2 realty staff
that are responsible for acquiring natural areas with Natural Areas
Acquisition Fund dollars.
Open Space Lands Acquisition and $1,054.8
$0
Development Fund
The OSLAD program provides grants to local units of government for
the acquisition of open space, parks and the development of park
facilities.
Zeroing out this budget will eliminate the DNR staff who evaluate and
process the grant proposals for this highly popular grant program.
Natural Areas Acquisition $4,500.0
$0
An estimated 2,500 acres of high quality natural areas and endangered
species habitats will not be acquired and protected and therefore
subject to destruction
OSLAD Grants $20,000.0 $0
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______________________________________________________________________
Douglas Chien, Conservation Field Rep. tel:312.251.1680
Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club fax:312.251.1780
200 North Michigan Ave., Suite 505 net:doug.chien@sierraclub.org
Chicago, IL 60601 web:illinois.sierraclub.org
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--></style><title>more details on gov's budget
cuts</title></head><body>
<div><font face="Times New Roman" size="+1" color="#000000">From the
IL Env. Council</font></div>
<div><font face="Times New Roman" size="+1"
color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font face="Times New Roman" size="+1" color="#000000">Impacts of
Governor's FY 05 Budget Request<br>
<br>
<u><b>Program<x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>FY
04 Budget FY05
Budget Request<br>
<br>
</b>Endangered Species Protection Board</u><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>$0<x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>$0<br>
<br>
The ESPB is responsible for the listing of species of plants and
animals as endangered or threatened and advising the DNR on the
conservation of listed species. Zeroing out their budget will
cause the ESPB to default on their statutory responsibility to list
species resulting in further degradation of species in peril.<br>
<br>
<u>Nature Preserves Commission</u><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>$1,216.4<x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>$0<br>
<br>
The NPC is responsible for the dedication of high quality natural
areas and endangered species habitats as nature preserves and land and
water reserves. These two dedications place the protection of
these lands as their highest and best use. It is the strongest
protection provided land in Illinois. <br>
<br>
Zeroing out their budget will result in the<b> loss of 12 professional
and 2 clerical staff</b>. These positions are responsible for
the oversight of 319 nature preserves, in 79 counties (43,290 acres)
and 106 land and water reserves in 48 counties (33,317 acres).
Many of these areas are dedicated by private landowners. NPC
staff negotiate these generous gifts. During the last fiscal
year 3,191 privately owned acres were dedicated saving the state
$3,640,000 (3 times the annual NPC budget!) that would have been
needed to acquire these areas.<br>
<br>
<u>Natural Heritage</u><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>$3,595.9<x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>$0<br>
<br>
The Natural Heritage staff in the Office of Resource Conservation are
responsible for the protection, management and restoration of
endangered species, natural areas, and wildlife like great egrets,
bald eagles, barn owls, shorebirds, scarlet tanagers, bluebirds, box
turtles and their prairie, forest and wetlands habitats on public and
private land.<br>
<br>
Zeroing out their budget will result in the<b> loss of all 30
professional biologists and 3 clerical staff</b>. Nearly all of
the biologists are field based positions or are responsible for
statewide conservation programs. <br>
<br>
<u>Implementation of the Natural Areas
Acquisition</u><x-tab>
</x-tab>$148.3<x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>$0<br>
<br>
Zeroing out this budget will result in the<b> loss of 2 realty
staff</b> that are responsible for acquiring natural areas with
Natural Areas Acquisition Fund dollars.<br>
<br>
<u>Open Space Lands Acquisition
and</u><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>$1,054.8<x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>$0<br>
<u>Development Fund<br>
<br>
</u>The OSLAD program provides grants to local units of government for
the acquisition of open space, parks and the development of park
facilities. <br>
<br>
Zeroing out this budget will eliminate the DNR staff who evaluate and
process the grant proposals for this highly popular grant program.<br>
<br>
<br>
<u>Natural Areas Acquisition</u><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>$4,500.0<x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>$0<br>
<br>
An estimated 2,500 acres of high quality natural areas and endangered
species habitats will not be acquired and protected and therefore
subject to destruction<br>
<br>
<br>
<u>OSLAD Grants</u><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>$20,000.0<x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>$0</font><br>
<font face="Times New Roman" size="+1" color="#000000"></font></div>
<x-sigsep><pre>--
</pre></x-sigsep>
<div><font
color="#007700"
>____________________________________________________________________<span
></span>__</font></div>
<div><font color="#007700">Douglas Chien, Conservation Field
Rep.<x-tab> </x-tab>tel:312.251.1680</font></div>
<div><font color="#007700">Illinois Chapter of the Sierra
Club<x-tab>
</x-tab>fax:312.251.1780</font></div>
<div><font color="#007700">200 North Michigan Ave., Suite
505<x-tab>
</x-tab>net:doug.chien@sierraclub.org</font></div>
<div><font color="#007700">Chicago, IL
60601<x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>web:illinois.sierraclub.org</font></div>
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