Governor Wolf addresses the legislature on the 2016-2017 budget
It’s been widely reported that the Commonwealth’s budget for the next fiscal year remains unresolved, without a revenue plan in place to fund the current fiscal year and address a budget shortfall.
A number of options are being considered to shore up the budget gap including severance taxes on fracking. One of the current revenue packages being discussed threatens the security of the Keystone Recreation, Park & Conservation Fund and grants that have been awarded from Keystone funds.
This means that Keystone funds for next year’s parks & trails projects, such as those listed in this spreadsheet, and other critical projects would not be available. Additionally, a grant that has not been 100% disbursed could potentially be “taken back” by the legislature for the General Fund, as proposed by Representative Dan Moul. This would be a major blow for PA trail development, as there are currently several projects that are in planning & design phases that would be threatened.
As a member organization of the PA Growing Greener Coalition, we joined with dozens of other organizations in sending a letter to the General Assembly demanding that it not balance the budget by slashing projects that protect our natural environment and provide a decent quality of life and access to recreation for PA residents. Now we’re asking you to do the same.
Labor Day weekend was designated for all Americans to relax and enjoy the privileges we’ve worked so hard for. This weekend, please take a moment to email your local legislators, and Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) at dmoul@pahousegop.com, before the House returns on September 11. Representative Moul leading the effort to gut environmental & trail funding to balance the state budget. Or you can send a message through this action alert set up by our partner, Rails to Trails Conservancy.
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